Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best Experience Ever! Past Review

By (Scripps College) - abroad from 09/05/2016 to 12/21/2016 with

IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My Spanish improved significantly, and I made lasting friendships. I also went out of my comfort zone, and am a lot more comfortable putting myself out there and speaking Spanish even though it's not always correct.

Review Photos

IES Abroad: Granada - Study Abroad with IES Abroad Photo IES Abroad: Granada - Study Abroad with IES Abroad Photo

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

The administration was amazing, they will help with anything and everything that they can. I felt so taken care of.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host mom was the sweetest woman in the world, and I felt so taken care of in her home.

* Food:

My host mom cooked amazing food every day, I miss it so much!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt super safe. I was never worried about my safety in Granada.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

It was such a wonderful program. I made incredible friends, learned so much about Granada and Andalusia, and my host family was lovely. It was everything I could ask for in a study abroad semester.

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)

Granada is a lot cheaper than the US, so I spent a lot less money than I thought I would.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~$25
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Going out for tapas is super cheap.

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? An upper division Spanish literature course
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? Eat lunch with your host parents and really try to talk to them and struggle through the language; they are super understanding and will encourage you to go out of your comfort zone.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • IES- the classes, the administration, everything.
  • Friends-I made lasting friendships that I really value.
  • My Host Family-I miss them so much.
* What could be improved?
  • Some classes could have been more structured.
  • Flying out of Granada is pretty expensive, so you usually have to go to Málaga, which requires some planning ahead of time.
  • It's a small city, so sometimes it can feel boring, but there is a lot to do, you just have to research!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? People on the program are not going to be fluent in Spanish, so you're all in the same boat. Just learn from each other, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there.

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!