Great lessons at Elebaires! Past Review
By T W (Spanish Language and Literature, University of Manchester) - abroad from 02/02/2015 to 05/08/2015 with
ELEBAIRES: High School Program
Living in a Spanish-speaking country has improved my Spanish massively. I would recommend all Year Abroad students to have lessons on the side of their placement, as they really improve your confidence. Living in Argentina has really helped me to immerse myself in a new culture and language.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Small intimate classes that cater to your demands as a student. I was placed in a class with other students of a similar level, meaning that we all improved at the same rate. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everything was very organised and the staff at Elebaires made me feel very welcome. It was very easy to enroll and begin my time at Elebaires! |
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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? |
The school is located in the heart of Buenos Aires - great for exploring the city after a morning of lessons. All of the teachers are local Argentinian's who are more than happy to share their knowledge of Buenos Aires and Argentina. Activities are arranged by the school every afternoon to help you get to know the city better. They also organise 'language exchange' evenings where you get the chance to practice your Spanish with local porteños! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Buenos Aires is a safe city if you use your common sense! Don't flash expensive items that you own, and always make sure your bag is zipped up - especially on public transport! But really the majority of people in Buenos Aires are friendly and welcoming. I had a very positive experience here in the city. |
| 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) |
Argentina is very cheap for foreigners if you spend your money wisely. Depending on the area you are in, food and transport etc are very affordable. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100 pounds |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Go out for dinner a lot to make the most of the exchange rate, but don't do it every night! If you have a job try and make a homemade lunch to avoid spending money on lunch every day! |
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? | University |
| 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? | Try and speak to locals whenever possible. The lessons at Elebaires really helped me improve, and made sure that I was speaking Spanish every day! |
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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| 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? | It was quite a long commute from where I lived, so I wish I had lived a bit closer to the school! |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
