Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Un semestre inolvidable en Granada Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/22/2019 to 05/18/2019 with

IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to take a chance and allow myself to fail or feel humility as learning a foreign language should never be about getting it perfect every single time but working through the small inconsistencies.

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.

The courses were incredibly relevant to Granada and allowed me to be challenged while being educated about where I was studying abroad.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Granada is incredibly safe to walk the streets no matter what time of day - there were always people out and about so I never felt unsafe.

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)

Granada is very inexpensive especially with the tapas culture

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

Classes that in Spanish were conducted completely in Spanish and many of the host families did not speak much English

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The location!
  • Program-led trips (esp to Morocco)
  • Food (esp from my host family)
* What could be improved?
  • Connection to University activities
  • Option for dinner at host family (required to eat on our own)
  • Ability to stay at host family during Semana Santa
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? What my host mom always said was to take advantage of everything - while it was important to enjoy down time, there were so many things I wish I could do or do one more time and to be determined to participate in activities as opposed to pushing them off.