Amazing Experience Overall Past Review
By Sam Forman (Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/09/2019 to 12/12/2019 with
CIEE: Seville - Liberal Arts
I learned a lot about being independent in new situations, especially through travelling alone a bit and pushing myself to do things I was scared about.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Almost all of the classes I took were pretty easy, even for being entirely in a foreign language, with both CIEE and at the university through their courses for foreigners. Although at times I had a lot of work, 5 classes didn't stop me from taking a lot of time relaxing, enjoying Sevilla, and travelling. Ángel de Quinta and Marina Blesa are fantastic professors! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Staff were attentive and mostly responsive. I had no issues. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was wonderful and lived in a really good spot in the city center. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
A lot of this is on me due to not pushing myself enough to integrate myself more, but at times I felt that there were not many readily-advertised opportunities to mingle with Spaniards outside of one recurring event. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
One day I became feverish and dizzy, my host family helped me get to a clinic and called CIEE. My program manager emailed me and found me in person to check up on me. |
| * Safety: |
Nothing happened to me personally, even when walking around at 1am or later. A friend was mugged early on fairly early at night but this was a seriously rare thing. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I wasn't looking for real "academic rigor" and this program didn't weigh me down much. They've seriously cut down on what they offer students during the semester, such as overnight trips, that were advertised to us beforehand. I really wish I had used Spanish more and met more Spaniards because, although my Spanish has gotten better, I was hoping for more. |
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) |
In a homestay all your meals come from your hosts, so you don't actually have to spend money on anything unless you want to go out with friends or have a meal out. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 15€-30€ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Withdrawing large amounts of cash at once will save on ATM fees. |
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? | Advanced |
| 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 162B |
| 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? | Go to the TALKUS events at the White Bar, you get to mingle with Spaniards who are also practicing their English. Try to encourage your American friends to speak Spanish together. |
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? | 0 |
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 much the program offerings have changed (many overnight trips to 4 or 5 day trips, etc.). That meeting Spaniards wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. |
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! |
