Alicante: Gateway to Discovery Past Review
By Gillian F (Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies., University of the Pacific) for
CIEE: Alicante - Language & Culture
I learned a lot about the world and myself especially. I have a better sense of my priorities and
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 grading system's confusing and hard to gage whether you're doing well. The content of the courses are interesting, but it's really how much each person puts into it. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They want us succeed and are very attentive to our needs. How they handle the performance of professors needs to change because some are not as good at teaching as others and it affects our performance and comprehension of the language (content, etc.). |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
As long as you communicate what you like, your diet will be what surrounded by things you like, esp. in homestays. The host moms are very attentive to your tastes so just say if you don't like something or if you're vegetarian and they should be more than willing to adjust their cooking to your wants and needs. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Would not change any of them for the world. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Come prepared. Make multiple photocopies of your passport, credit cards, and IDs. When traveling hide money/credit cards in different spots so that if your wallet is stolen you're not completely useless. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Not more than 60 euro and that would be an expensive week in Alicante. If traveling it was definitely more, like hundreds more, so account for travel in expenses. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | When traveling, find hostels with kitchens. In Alicante, the night life is generally really cheap, you shouldn't spend more than 5 euro in a night. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Span 023-Third Year |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I mostly practiced my language outside of class with my host mother, Spanish friends, and whenever necessary. Basically whenever it was needed. |
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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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 think this program is perfect for those who have never traveled extensively or live near a coast. I think also students that willing to apply themselves could benefit from this program too because this program easily sets you up with interaction with Spanish students to improve your language skills. |
