Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Friendships, opportunities for cultural exchange, beautiful scenery January 10, 2022

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/02/2021 to 12/18/2021 with

IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
After this program, I gained a lot of confidence in myself. I figured out my phone plan on my own, met people and formed strong relationships, persevered when I felt that I was struggling with learning the language. I proved to myself that I can live on my own abroad and it was definitely worth while!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Overall, I felt very supported by the professors and my schedule was balanced nicely.

* 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:

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? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save money on things provided by the program, make sure to eat as many meals as you can in your residence hall/homestay to save money on food

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? 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? Hisp193 (film)
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? Practice in stores, coffee shops, wherever you can. Try not to let fear get in the way, just speak to the best of your ability each day without focusing on sounding perfect and you'll see vast improvement.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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?
  • I really liked how I was able to form meaningful relationships with professors, my professors were very supportive, kind people. I genuinely enjoyed going to class.
  • I loved the location in the city. The IES center was located very close to where I lived, only 15 minutes walking distance and in a beautiful area with a spectacular view
  • I liked the level of support given. I never felt tied down and I never felt left in the dust, I feel like there was a great balance of organized trips and activities while giving us the freedom to explore.
* What could be improved?
  • Some of the field trips felt a little rushed at times, I felt like there was a lot to do in a small amount of time. This could have something to do with covid, because normally some of the trips are overnight and we have more free time. I would've liked to explore each city we visited a little more on my own.
  • It was hard to enjoy the last week as much because everyone was focused on finals. Maybe it would be nice to have a separation between the last day of finals and a couple days to get other stuff done and say goodbye.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I now know how stressful travel can be, especially during covid. The last time I traveled internationally it was much simpler. I wish I knew that overall the traveling part of abroad is really exhausting, especially wearing a mask for days in a row. There were so many hoops to jump through. While it was absolutely worth the stress, I wasn't aware of how complicated flying and getting covid tests/forms would be.

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!