Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Food Past Review

By (Hispanic Studies, Anthropology, Psychology, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/27/2015 to 05/27/2015 with

IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained confidence and various skills, including the improvement of my Spanish. It was SO worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Love Alba, love Javier!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Centrally located, the residencia gave me great opportunities to mingle with Spanish students my age, and Antonio is a great cook!

* Food:

Potato day at the residencia was the best.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A

* Safety:

I rarely felt unsafe in Granada.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About $90

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? The highest level there is at Brandeis.
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? Hang out with actual Spanish students! Use your intercambio wisely.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • Javier
  • The cool students I got to meet both in my program and outside of it
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • Wifi in the residencia
  • The Spanish Experience Of The Other course
  • The spanish language classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Granada does not have an Apple store.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Spanish Contemporary Theater
Course Department: Literature
Instructor: Javier Martínez de Velasco
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Absolutely phenomenal. Javier is a professor who knows how to explain theater in such a way that the least experienced student in the class understands and the most experienced student in the class still feels challenged.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

The Spanish Experience Of The Other
Course Department: Anthropology
Instructor: Isabel Marín Sánchez
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This class was challenging and I learned a bit, however the professor was not in any way culturally sensitive and didn't seem to take the students' interests to heart.
Credit Transfer Issues: