Once in a Lifetime Opportunity Past Review
By Amanda Platt (University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee) - abroad from 09/06/2017 to 12/20/2017 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Internships in Seville
I interned with a well-known TV production company in Southern Spain and learned so much about the entertainment industry and Spanish work culture. My Spanish improved so much since my coworkers knew minimal English and now I have valuable connections (and friendships) in Spain to carry with me.
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. |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Caro, the Internship Coordinator worked tirelessly to place me with an internship that suited my needs and skillset. Seville's CEA staff in general are some the kindest and most supportive people I've met and the program was well organized. I couldn't have asked for a better company to go abroad with. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | > 40 euro |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Homestay will save you a lot of money on food because your host family can prepare you lunches every day and to take with you when you travel. If you do eat out, it's usually better (and cheaper) to eat where the locals do. |
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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300 level Spanish |
| 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? | Once again, homestays. Most host families speak little English, but even if they do they will communicate with you daily in the host language. It's an easy way to have daily language practice using colloquial language. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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? | Always bring toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and a water bottle with you wherever you go. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
