Absolutely amazing! Past Review
By Leidiane De Oliveira (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/24/2019 to 05/31/2019 with
CIEE: Barcelona - Advanced Liberal Arts
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile to go abroad. I was able to become more fluent in spanish, as well as gain confidence when speaking it. I was pushed outside my comfort zone by having to study at a spanish university where I had to take difficult classes in the local language. I also gained a lot of "inside" knowledge about a different place and culture that isn't always prominently shown.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
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
My program made sure that we were well taken care of and tried to provide as much help as possible. The teachers and director always checked in with us and I meant lifelong friends through the program. |
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? | About $50 for food a week, if it was lunch. Dinner would raise the price. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you want to eat out, usually try to see if there are times during the day where food is cheaper. Also take into consideration anything that could happen while budgeting, especially with phone plans, etc. |
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? | HISP 150A |
| 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? | Practice when you go out to restaurants and stores. If you want to speak your native language with your peers from your program that's okay, but with everyone and everything else, practice the language. Also, make local friends. |
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? |
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? | How the university classes were going to be and more "inside" knowledge about the classes themselves. |
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