Barcelona: I wish I had stayed! Past Review
By Scarlet N (Spanish Language and Literature., The University of Texas at Austin) for
API (Academic Programs International): Barcelona - Universitat Pompeu Fabra
It was absolutely worthwhile. It has encouraged me to move after graduation.
Personal Information
| 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 workload was very light and manageable, but still improved my language skills a lot. You can pass with very little effort, which is the biggest difference between abroad and normal universities. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The onsite leaders were really helpful and fun to be around. The guidebook they gave us was perfect. I walked into the API office whenever I needed something, and one of the leaders even took me to the doctor and translated for me. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The location was right by my school. The dorms were overpriced, but I enjoyed meeting the people in them. |
| * Food: |
Grocery store food was cheap and accessible. Eating out can get expensive. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
API organized the best trips out of any other program, even much more expensive ones. We flew to Rome and Sevilla. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Getting sick and going to the doctor was difficult. The safety risks are manageable with common sense. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would not pay extra for the dorms. I would get an apartment. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Upper division spanish |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Many people spoke english, but not very well. I used spanish every day to get around. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Go for it! I wouldn't do the integrated studies program though, just hispanic studies. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Spanish Language- Advanced |
| Course Department: | 51108 T3 |
| Instructor: | Anna Turza |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | This was an excellent grammar course. It had more work than my other courses, but really helped me with my language skills. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No issues. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Imagenes de Espana en el Cine Contemporanep |
| Course Department: | 51091- T3 |
| Instructor: | Alan Salvado Romero |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | This was an easy and interesting film course. The movies we watched were in spanish, but with english subtitles. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No issues |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Literatura Espanola Contemporanea |
| Course Department: | 51089 T3 |
| Instructor: | Begona Capllonch Bujosa |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | This was a great introduction to spanish literature. The professor spoke almost no English, so it helped my spanish as well. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No issues |
