The best four months of my life while roughing it Past Review
By A student (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 02/27/2012 to 06/23/2012 with
IES Abroad: Buenos Aires - Society & Culture
Safety skills, budgeting skills, language skills
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | IES abroad classes UCES |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I was not expecting such a rigorous courseload with a heavy cinvpcsntration on reading and writing in Spanish. All of my courses were conducted in Spanish but I believe the allowed me to excel much more quickly in the language than if I would have had less adacemic rigor. |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
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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? |
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| * Safety: |
I was robbed twice, one of which included a violent assault resulting in a severe concussion. |
| 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) |
They have a very favorable exchange rate! |
| * 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? | 100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Budget early and save money on the side for expects travel. |
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 |
Speaking Spanish was a very important aspect of this program |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | Upper level phonetics |
| 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? | Ask questions in Spanish to people that don't know you speak English |
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?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Who I am as a person, and how to handle anything life gives you |
