¡Que Divertido! Past Review

By A student (Spanish Language and Literature., Kenyon College) - abroad from 09/08/2014 to 12/12/2014 with

IES Abroad: Madrid - IES Abroad in Madrid

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I really enjoyed my experience abroad with IES. I think that not only did I gain Spanish language skills but I also gained confidence in myself. Furthermore, for the first time I lived in a large metropolitan city and I learned a lot about city life. It was definitely a worthwhile experience.

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.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The IES staff was extremely professional and did an excellent job.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I lived with a host family and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
* 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)	Madrid is not a very expensive city; however, I decided to travel a lot which can get very expensive.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	100 Euros

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?	Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	300 level literature course
How many hours per day did you use the language?	10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Living with a host family is a great way to practice Spanish

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?	Classes Weekly Field Trips Host Family
* What could be improved?	Length of program No break during program
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Don't be afraid to take risks when abroad. It is a once in a lifetime experience and you should definitely take advantage of all you can while you are 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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	El Greco, Goya and Velázquez at the Prado Museum
Course Department:	Art History
Instructor:	Andres Ubeda
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This was my favorite course while abroad because it took place at the world famous Prado Museum. It was extremely interesting and engaging. The professor was a curator at the museum and was extremely knowledgeable about the topic.
Credit Transfer Issues: