Past Review
By Jenna S (Global Studies/Spanish, Providence College) for
CIEE: Seville - Liberal Arts
It was the most amazing semester of my life and the program was a perfect match for me. I now have fully realized why I chose Global Studies as my major. The amount I learned about the spanish culture and language was incredible. I also learned a lot about Europe as a whole, gaining knowledge that I wouldn't have been able to obtain in a PC class.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | University of Seville |
| 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. |
Grades were primarily determined by midterm and final exams. The workload is very different, as more is done in the classroom rather than having a lot of homework or papers. |
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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 lived in an apartment in Los Remedios on Avenida Ramon de Carranza 18. I lived with a Senora and an american student, though we each had our own rooms. <br /><br /> Everything I needed was provided by my host mother. She was an absolutely sweet and amazing woman and was really an integral part of my overall incredible experience. It was a bit of a walk to class (about 35 minutes) and the bus system wasn't a feasible option. The city bike system could have been used as an alternative, but we chose to walk. |
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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: |
I ended up needing to use the health care facilities and everything was easily accessible and not terribly expensive. The program helped me figure out how to get reimbursement from my insurance company back home. |
| 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? | Pay as you go cell phones |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced with my host mother, my american roommate, the Spanish students who worked at the CIEE center, the Spaniards in my CIEE interest group, and spanish friends. Sevilla, being a smaller more authentic spanish city (unlike modern Madrid and Barcelona), most locals did not speak english, so spanish was imperative. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | A student who really wants to immerse themselves in the Spanish culture, who is independent and outgoing, and someone who is confident in their Spanish skills. |
