Guatemala Was a Great Experience Past Review
By Sara A (Communication and Media Studies., Cardinal Stritch University) for
Cardinal Stritch University (CSU): Guatemala City - Universidad del Valle
I improved my understanding of the Spanish language. I also learned about the culture in Guatemala and had a great time.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My instructor from the host country was great. I had a very positive classroom experience and I felt my first year of Spanish at Cardinal Stritch University helped to prepare me for this trip. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I had a great experience in Guatemala and learned a lot. There was a little misunderstanding about the weather and how we should prepare to dress for the weather. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
We ate most meals in the school cafeteria. The food was very good. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The weekend trips to different cities in Guatemala was very fun and even helped me with my Spanish. It was nice to learn about the culture and history in Guatemala. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe at the host country school. The school had security guards and a fence around the school to keep us safe. |
| 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 feel I was informed well about the expenses. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced Spanish with the host instructor, my fellow students and with my instructor from Cardinal Stritch University. We used Spanish most of the time we were on the trip. We used Spanish to interact with the students attending the host school. We also used Spanish in the market place and other public places. This was my second Spanish class that I have ever taken, so it was a little difficult for me to speak Spanish so often but I managed. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Who did you live 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? | Make sure you attend all the classes before leaving for the trip so you are prepared. Don't be afraid to ask your instructor questions before you leave. This type of program would benefit any student that needs to take a Spanish class and would be interested in studying abroad. |
