Viva Madrid Past Review
By Jinzhao W (Applied Math, Harvard University) for
IES Abroad: Madrid Summer - Language & Cultural Studies
Yes. I learnt a lot through the mistakes I had made.
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. |
My advanced grammar class was time-comsuming and somewhat rewarding. The film class was fun but also involved not too much active participation. The professors were really nice though! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The IES staff members were really helpful whenever you need them! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host mom was nice but a bit strict. She certainly contributed to my Spanish experience. |
| * Food: |
I liked lunches because I got to talk to my host mom about current issues. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I liked the tourist attractions in Madrid as well as the clubs. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
IES program required all of us to get cellphones and kept us in check that way very well. |
| 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) |
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| 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? | Keep track of how much you spend on additional trips. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 50 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced Spanish in class and spoke it everywhere outside the classroom too. Most people in the program spoke English with one another. |
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?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Do what you like, so anyone can have fun abroad so long they know this. |
