Gracias Granada Past Review
By Margaret (Colorado College) - abroad from 01/21/2016 to 05/22/2016 with
IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language
I learned so much. I matured in innumerable ways. My Spanish skills skyrocketed, I became more independent, I am now comfortable in foreign countries and in uncomfortable situations. I think every person should study abroad if they have the chance.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I took all my classes at the IES Center. The professors were amazing and I learned so much. I enjoyed going to class every day and there were always great field trips! |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The IES staff are AMAZING!!! They spend all their time making sure your abroad experience is great. They were always there for during the semester and always made sure we knew about things we could do in the community from sports to clubs to volunteering. Anything you wanted, they could find. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with a host mom and an American roommate. Our mom made us breakfast and lunch every day. She also cleaned and did our laundry. She was very sweet and I would often spend my afternoon playing with her granddaughters. |
| * Food: |
The typical Andalusian diet is not that appetizing or healthy... That being said, there are a wide variety of restaurants to get (free!) tapas for dinner that are unique and tasty. You can also find yummy specialties like churros and chocolate or sangria everywhere. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
IES makes sure you get immersed in the culture. Language programs pay attentions to minutiae like colloquial sayings or unspoken communication norms. We have Spanish university students as "orientation leaders" and get set up with an "intercambio," or language exchange partner. We also meet locals in all our interactions. I had a host of Spanish friends by the time I left. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had to go to the hospital once and the doctor once during my stay. Both times, and IES staff member accompanied me to make sure I understood the health system and there were no communication barriers. They always supported me with whatever I was dealing with. |
| * Safety: |
Granada is extremely safe. I felt comfortable walking through the streets alone in the middle of the night. As long as you are being smart and not an obvious target, no one will bother you (and even if you were being stupid, I doubt you would find trouble in Granada...). |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
IES Abroad's Study in Granada was the most amazing semester of my life. The faculty and staff are amazing, especially the center director, Javier. All the host families are sweet and caring and the classes are fun, engaging, and really immerse you into the culture. The kids in the program were all enthusiastic and adventurous. I wish I had spent a whole year there. |
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) |
In Granada, when you order a drink, you get a free tapa! It's one of the last cities in Spain that still honors true tapa culture. This means I could go out and get two drinks for about 2.5 Euro each ($3) and have dinner too! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | This varied from week to week, but without counting gifts I bought for people at home I would say about $60/ week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Coffee and "second breakfast" really adds up if you get it every day between classes. Try having you host mom pack you a piece of fruit every morning instead. |
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 |
Even now when I speak in English I can hear my favorite Spanish teacher saying, "Español, por favor!" fervently in the back of my mind. |
| 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? | AP Spanish |
| 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? | It sounds hard, but if you can try practicing even with your American friends, you really do learn so much more. Also, try to make friends with the locals. The best way to learn is "in the street." |
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 |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It gets cold at night. Bring rainboots if you're going in the springtime. Don't overpack. Plan and stick to a budget. I was not expecting to share a room with my roommate (which I did). |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
