Average Past Review

By (Providence College) - abroad from 01/12/2012 to 05/12/2012 with

Hamilton College: Madrid - Academic Year in Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a greater command of the Spanish language. Studying abroad improved my Spanish but I would not rush to do it again. Traveling becomes exhausting.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I would have preferred if they took a little more time to match our interests/needs to host families

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

Finances

* 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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 250
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save your money. When traveling on the weekends not only do you have to buy plane/train/bus tickets, but you also have to pay for housing and food for all 3 meals.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
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? 300 level
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? Become as immersed into the culture as possible. While living with other students in a dorm may be more fun, living with a host family that speaks the language you will learn a lot more.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • The directors of the program were extremely nice and helpful
  • I loved the city of Madrid
  • I met great friends
* What could be improved?
  • The program was very small and isolated
  • I wish where we attended school was more like a university with a cafeteria, gym etc. with lots of students to interact with
  • I wish we got to know the city of Madrid for a while before we were sent off to the south of spain for orientation
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How little Spanish I actually knew