Best way to travel, best way to study Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Paradoxically, although the demands in terms of grades were relatively low for these classes, the learning I did this semester was probably the most important and the most accelerated of my college career. The professors were wonderfully available and helpful, and I learned so much about Argentina as well as my and my country's place in world relations and history, all in rapidly improving spanish.

On-site administration of your program

Best people ever. It would be a blast to work there with them, I think.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a residence hall in the south of the city called Entis. Plenty of other students from my program stayed there, but it was by no means limited to IES students. The other people that lived there were overwhelmingly from other parts of Argentina or South America, and were a great additional way to become immersed. Most students have questions about whether residences or home-stays create a better abroad experience and it's hard to say. After my semester I know of people that enjoyed both and I've also heard criticisms for both as well. My only complaint is that with my experience, I was initially put with a great Brazilian girl who became a good friend of mine and taught me a lot of my spanish. But my roommates after that both spoke english and my language improvement slowed a bit. In that way, it's kind of luck-of-the-draw.

Somehow, Argentina has so many Italians but manages to inherit a lot of its food from England. I recommend trying to bring hot sauce

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It's difficult to integrate when your classmates are Americans, but that's also largely up to personal effort. It's very available, but you have to put yourself out there. Some classmates were better at this than others; I'd say I was pretty middle-of-the-line. (Argentine boyfriend and friends, but a lot of time spent with American friends speaking English once my later roommates were English-speakers)

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got sick, and they were all over it. They paid me a house call and were so helpful.

People had iphones stolen, but not me personally. Never violent. But be careful with your things. (BUT also don't freak out about it)

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Cheap food, expensive clothes and things. It's not nothing, and I spent a lot on personal travel on breaks. But it was all very worth it.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

All my classes were in spanish, but sometimes it was hard to keep speaking it out of class with the other students.

Select all that apply

• Dorm

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

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• Americans
• International Students

• The staff
• The professors
• The activities

• Spanish-speaker roommate guarantee in the dorms

The Academic or Linguist