Studying in Salamanca Past Review
By Kelli Rubin (Gettysburg College) - abroad from 09/01/2016 to 12/22/2016 with
IES Abroad: Salamanca - Advanced Spanish Immersion
Absolutely. I have always had an international mindset but fully immersing yourself for 4 months is a once in a lifetime experience and allowed me to gain even more worldly knowledge.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses at the University of Salamanca are challenging but rewarding. The final exams are usually around 80% of the final grade. IES courses are much less challenging and easy to succeed in. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There is a week dedicated to orientation to make sure you fully understand how the semester will run. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Incredibly, I still keep in touch with my host family regularly. |
| * Food: |
Delicious and plenty of options. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Very but only because I went out of my way to do so. It can be done but you have to actively immerse yourself. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have any issues |
| * Safety: |
I always felt very safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I had an incredible experience, zero complaints. |
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) |
Living in a homestay and having meals provided is very helpful |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Maybe 20 dollars at the most |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat with your host family as much as you can. |
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 |
All of the classes are in Spanish and there's a club to join where you vow to only speak in Spanish. |
| 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? | 345 |
| 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? | Just have confidence and do it! Practice makes perfect. Talk to the locals and talk to your host family as much as you can. |
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? |
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? | How much I would miss it upon returning to my home school! |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
