Past Review
By Kacey C (Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication., The University of Texas at Austin) for
IES Abroad: Barcelona - Study Abroad with IES Abroad
It was amazing. To say it was worthwhile is a complete understatement. I have become so much more appreciative of what America offers while also expanding my horizons and becoming more worldy. I am no longer an ignorant American who can only see views from my narrowed perspective. I have had the most amazing experiences while leaning so much more about myself and of so many other cultures. It gave me the courage and confidence to continue to get outside my comfort zone and explore different ways of life. I am already planning my next trip to travel aborad.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The work load was heavy and they made it extremely difficult to balance academics while being able to explore/experience Barcelona fully. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The faculty was great and helpful but I wish they had provided more outside organized events. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Laforja 50 <br /><br /> My host mom and brother were great, I miss them both. |
| * Food: |
Took a little getting use to have the bones in my fish and chicken still being there! But it was great food and it helped me adapt to the culture better and experience new food! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I absolutely loved the city of Barcelona: the food, the atmosphere, the culture, the people, the nightlife. It is a fantastic city with much to do, see and learn. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I was made fully aware of the danger of the petty crime in Barcelona due t my reseach before hand, my homestays warnings, and through IES. I never once felt in danger while being in Barcelona even when I was out at night. I never was robbed, however many of my friends were pickpocketed. |
| 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I spent an abnormal amount on outside expenditures that could have easily been avoided |
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? | Spanish 2 equivalent in the US |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Have more interactive ways of becoming involved in the Spanish community. Intercambio was the only offer given to students, provide other ways of having students interact or meet locals and become for integrated in the Spanish society. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Take a risk and just do it. You won't regret it. Ypu'll meet amazing people, see the most beautiful things, and gain an extremly interesting perspective of the owrld. You will be a different pesron for this experience and I have learned so much more this summer by studying abroad than I have learned in a years worth in my home university. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Sports and Society |
| Course Department: | AN-SO320 |
| Instructor: | Dawn Hiscock |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | It was informative and interesting. I enjoyed the guest speakers and the instructor was great. It provided the perfect balance of lecture and hands-on learning. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Yes, I received a sociology credit for this class and I would absolutely recommend taking this class. It was fun, interesting and educational. I looked forward to this class; it was interactive and the field trips were fun and helped you experience Barcelona to a further degree. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Intermediate Spanish II |
| Course Department: | SP202 |
| Instructor: | Nuria Plaza |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | The class was difficult but yet still interesting. Nuria was a great instructor and was extremely helpful. She tried her best to make the class fun by doing games that were educational and helped us be more hands on instead of her just lecturing the entire 2 hours. I appreciate her effort and teaching style and I could tell she enjoyed teaching. The class was difficult though and I found she graded tough, she also gave a heavy workload with s substantial amount of homework every day even when we had a test or presentaion the next day. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Yes, I enjoyed taking my foreign language credit abroad. I learned so much more by being surrounded in the environment than I would have learned in any classroom in the US.I would definitely recommend going abroad in the country that you need your foreign language credit. |
