A Stroll through Madrid Past Review
By A student (Biology, General., Brandeis University) - abroad from 05/20/2013 to 06/29/2013 with
IES Abroad: Madrid Summer - Language & Cultural Studies
After my 6 weeks in Madrid, my Spanish and knowledge of Spain improved dramatically. This experience was worthwhile since I was able to understand their culture much more while having plenty of time to explore this unique country.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
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 |
They were very accommodating and understanding. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I wish we were able to meet more Spanish students, but they had to study for finals. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
On the first day of orientation, IES brought police officers to give us tips how to be safe. I never had anything stolen. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Spain is not the cheapest country to live in, but I was able to save money by purchasing groceries. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 80 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Instead of eating out every night, have picnics with your classmates. |
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? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate Spanish |
| 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? | Live in a homestay in order to avoid speaking English all the time. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 0 |
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? | Many of my classmates traveled to other parts of Europe and Spain during the semester. |
