The Best Semester Ever Past Review
By Haley F (Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication., University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa) - abroad from 01/04/2012 to 05/18/2012 with
AIFS: Salamanca - University of Salamanca
I learned so much. I am confident to speak Spanish to anyone and I learned a lot about different cultures. I realized that I am able to be thrown into a foreign country knowing no one and I can come out with new best friends and some of the best times of my life.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Phonetics, History of Spain, Conversation and Writing, Grammar, Culture of Spain |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors were amazing and always available to help you. They really enjoyed getting to know their students and took us out for tapas! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
AIFS helped the transition be very easy. They easily turned Salamanca into our homes and were always there to help us. The office is located in the Plaza and we would often stop by to hangout there. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
AIFS made sure to take us out to different cultural events and would alert us when other events were going on. They introduced us to locals who helped us integrate into the Spanish life. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt in danger when I was in Salamanca. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 10-30 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Check out the Sunday market! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 200 level College course |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Speak the language to everyone you can. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew that it was cold there! I also wish that I could have met my roommate before or had a say in who it was. |
