Universitat de Barcelona with IES Past Review

By (Sociology., The University of Texas at Austin) for

IES Abroad: Barcelona - Study Abroad with IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
i enjoyed the experience but would have done a different program

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: Universitat de Barcelona
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month
The term and year this program took place: Spring 2010

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload seemed fair but the grading system was difficult to get used to. We never really got grades on the things we turned in so I never knew where I stood in the class.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

they did not seem interested in their students

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in an apartment with a host mom. The neighborhood was nice but kind of far from the main parts of the city and there was no metro stop near us. <br /><br /> it was good.

* Food:

she was a good cook

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

i went on one trip with my program and thought it was awful

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

the city of barcelona has a lot of petty theft

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? n/a

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? the last lower division spanish class
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

meet people from the country and try not to just surround yourself with other americans

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? make sure to branch out from the program

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

management across borders

Course Department: MG345
Instructor: Beth Kuhnline
Instruction Language: english
Comments: I thought she was a good teacher. She seemed interested in her students
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Sports and Society in Spain

Course Department: An-SO320
Instructor: Dawn Hiscock
Instruction Language: english
Comments: It was unorganized but the teacher was nice
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Spanish

Course Department: Sp301
Instructor: Maria
Instruction Language: spanish
Comments: I did not like the teacher at all. She was not patient.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

European Television

Course Department: CM330
Instructor: Helena Medina
Instruction Language: english
Comments: I really like the teacher. She was really nice and made the class interesting. I learned alot
Credit Transfer Issues: