Self-growth in Granada Past Review
By Kathryn (Franklin & Marshall College) - abroad from 09/02/2019 to 12/18/2019 with
IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language
I gained a sense of feeling comfortable outside of my normal comfort zone. I would do it all over again if given the chance.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff is amazing and make you feel like Granada is home. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Be aware that host families cook lunch for you every day! Worth the experience. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I am a small, young woman and I felt safe walking by myself at all hours of the day, but I would suggest getting a taxi home at night just to be cautious. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Granada was the perfect stepping stone for me as my first experience outside the United States for more than a couple of weeks. |
Finances
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* 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 perfect if you are on a budget. The food is very cheap in Granada and small portions for dinner is a part of their culture. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 40 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Find the cheapest grocery store in your city and use that for two or three meals a week. It will make a difference! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | Spanish 221 |
| 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? | There are apps out now that can help you contact other students trying to learn english and you guys can help each other. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | You will have time to read for fun so bring a couple books in english (they are hard to find)! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Acuarela |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Ana Hernandez |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Ana helped me to love art again and took us all around Granada to do so. It was such an amazing experience and the class that I didn't know I was missing. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
