Madrid: Experience of a Lifetime. Past Review
By Terez D (English/Spanish, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater) for
Complutense University of Madrid: Madrid - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was very worthwhile, I learned a lot more there than I do here. However, I did fail two out of the four classes I took due to the single exam at the end that counted for my entire grade in the class. There is no re-do or way to fix it if you are foreign exchange, since makeup and re-do exams are held in August. The experience taught me that I can live and survive in a foreign country, something I plan on doing at a later date and time. I would like to teach English abroad after I graduate college, and this past semester gave me the confidence to follow through with that dream.
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. |
Grading system was completely different than what I am used to, one exam crade constituted as your grade for the entire class. Teaching methods were lecture, not many students participated. Help via teachers was difficult if not impossible to arrange. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I was on my own. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Location was great, landlady and I did not get along. |
| * Food: |
Food was amazing, however it was a bit more difficult to come by. I got used to going to the store every other day. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Madrid has a ton of festivals, the entire city turns into an anthill. The program did offer vacations for exchange students at a low rate, however I was unable to participate in any of them and planned my own vacations. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Madrid is very safe so long as you aren't stupid. Health services were never required other than the local pharmacy. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Basic skills were reviewed, however it allowed for me to meet other foreign exchange students. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | students who are proficient in the Spanish language and take tests well. Students like me who do not test well should either stay in all english taught courses or find a different school. |
