"Not better or worse, just different." Past Review
By Marqui (Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 09/03/2018 to 12/19/2018 with
IES Abroad: Barcelona - Study Abroad with IES Abroad
I learned that culture and perspectives are not better or worse in an ordinal system, they are just simply different. Do not judge in a ranking system but instead admire the differences and embrace them
Review Photos
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. |
Amazing Program!!! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Everything was perfect except for the WIFI |
| * Food: |
Everything was amazing, especialy the other cultured foods |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Better than the US's healthcare system |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved Spain, especially Barcelona, but the staff at IES were truly phenomenal and treated you like family. I loved being in the building. I honestly felt s at home and so supported. IES made my experience so amazing. |
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) |
Food is very cheap, $3 for a coffee and a really good sandwhich |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $70-80 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy groceries and pack lunches to take to school |
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 |
In classes we only spoke english unless it was Spanish class, but they encouraged it outside of the program. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 200 |
| 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? | Live in a home stay, you will improve exponentially. Also, go into every store or restaurant speaking Spanish first and not English. I know it is more comfortable to speak English but you will learn more and be treated better. |
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's okay to mess up when learning a language, its actually encouraged because that is how you learn. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
