Barcelona:WatchOutForPickpockets,and Have Fun :) Past Review
By Lyndsey R (Government, The University of Texas at Austin) for
IES Abroad: Barcelona - Study Abroad with IES Abroad
Yes.
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. |
Workload was heavy at times but manageable, sometimes hard to play the part of a dedicated student and a tourist wanting to experience city to its fullest when worrying about class. Overall learned a lot in both classes, Spanish 302 and Politics in Spain. Took field trips/studies and the professors were very knowledgeable in their fields. Grading system was comparable. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Expectations were all met, had limited interaction with administration apart from my 2 professors. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
15 minute train ride to class, was located very close to a Metro stop. Wasn't difficult, our RA was helpful, treated us as a friend. |
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Costa Brava arranged field trip was great. Nightlife is amazing. Historical sites, food, shopping are all awesome. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
WATCH OUT FOR PICKPOCKETS, AT ALL TIMES. Many students (maybe even majority) lost some possession/ had something valuable stolen. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
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? | would live with host family to not have to eat out as much. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | SPN610D |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
With our professor, some friends, some local friends, and in everyday interactions. At restaurants, stores, malls, at beach, etc. Some spoke limited English. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Dont worry Have fun Be Safe. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Politics in Spain |
| Course Department: | POS302 |
| Instructor: | Ignasi Perez |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Professor was very knowledgable, course was interesting especially since Spain was going through a series of political riots at the time. Took 2 field trips to historical places around Barcelona and the Universitat de Barcelona to survey locals about their political views. Research paper and 1 exam, extensive reading, articles, 200+ page reader. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | None foreseen |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Advanced Grammar and Usage II |
| Course Department: | SPN302B |
| Instructor: | Maria Mejillas |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Teacher was very helpful and instructive, taught more than grammar and language but also cultural aspects of Spain and geographic information (regions and their characteristics). Took about 5 field trips to different barrios in Barcelona. Course material was challenging on tests but she was a good communicator and helpful. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Not yet. Talked to 2 advisors who said credit transfer should not be a problem, as long as I placed into a high enough level. |
