I realized that I'm growing up fast Past Review
By Ashley M (Spanish Major, Illinois State University) - abroad from 01/01/2012 to 05/24/2012 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Granada, Spain
I gained a new way to look at life plus my spanish I'm proved. Yes it was worthwhile, you make it worthwhile
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Failed to tell students that you don't go to school with Spaniards like they made it seem but other then that the Spanish professors are fantastic and really make you learn spanish more efficiently and faster. I would recommend meeting some of the natives and past the time with them instead of with Americans like most people do. (you don't learn anything new when you hang out with people the same as you and isn't this the whole reason why you study abroad?) |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I disliked living with a señora, they treat you like your a child even still knowing that you are from a different culture. Most of the Señoras just take students in for the money. |
| * Food: |
Food in general tasted better here except from my Señora, It was a mix of "spanish food" with other food that she thought Americans might like.. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt well integrated. I was one of those who stayed in granada most of the time with actual local. I past the time with locals and tried to adapt to their lifestyle. If you past the time with American's you will not learn too much. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Anytime i had a health problem it was address immediately. |
| * Safety: |
I feel safe and have felt safe the entire time in Granada. Wonderful city. |
| 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) |
Some weeks were harder then others but all in all it was easy to manage money since i had to pay for this trip myself. |
| * 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? | 50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take out a large sum of money at the ATM at one time and try and use that money thought out a month or two. |
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 |
If you did not go to conversational meetings or things outside of school or American culture, you had a really tough time speaking spanish. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 116 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make native friends or try and meet a native boyfriend/girlfriend, They most likely do not know english and you are basically forced to speak spanish. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
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? | That the weather changed everyday and that i had brought less things then i wanted to. |
