Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Unparalleled January 13, 2021

By (University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill) - abroad from 01/16/2020 to 05/01/2020 with

IES Abroad: Salamanca - Advanced Spanish Immersion

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Not only did I significantly improve my Spanish speaking, writing and reading/comprehension skills, but I also learned a great deal about the Spanish culture, learned to love and appreciate history, and learned quite a bit about myself. I would say my experience abroad was more than worthwhile and I am eager to pick up right where I left off.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academic rigor of the Advanced Spanish Immersion is unparalleled. I have always hoped to experience the amount of growth I did while a student at IES Abroad Salamanca.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff and mentors at IES Salamanca were absolutely amazing. They truly took the time to know us and cared about us achieving our goals and having an overall wonderful experience.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

During my time in Salamanca I opted for homestay and I have absolutely 0 regrets. I am still in contact with my host family and am grateful for the time I shared with them and all of the things they taught me.

* Food:

Being of Colombian descent, I am used to extremely flavorful food so I was a little shocked by Spanish food and how it compared. Despite it, the food was enjoyable and I still cook Spanish meals from time to time.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I truly started to feel like a Salamantina while abroad, although I wish I had met and connected with more locals.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I personal did not experience any health issues while abroad, but from what I witnessed, other students were able to access healthcare and IES staff were extremely helpful.

* Safety:

Being in a different town across the world, I was a little worried at first. However, I have never felt as safe as I did in Salamanca.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Salamanca is the best place to study abroad, especially if your goal is to learn or improve your Spanish. Within the first week alone I experienced more growth than I would normally experience in a semester of Spanish class in the US.

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)

Living on a budget was super easy in Salamanca. It is a very affordable place to live!

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Prioritize what you want out of your experience-- I prefer spending money on experiences rather than material things or meals. I recommend setting aside money to try local cuisines, a bit for souvenirs, and other monies for any adventures you hope to embark on. Having a clear plan helps you stretch your money.

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

My program strongly encouraged conversing in Spanish as much as possible. One of my favorite things is El Club de Español, which is a club you can join where you commit to speaking Spanish 24/7. It really helped me grow and put my skills to the test.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
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? A 6th semester spanish 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? The best way to learn is to take advantage of all the opportunities available to you-- don't be afraid to be one of the only ones in your friend group committing yourself to speaking Spanish. You get out what you put in!

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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Academic Rigor
  • El Club de Español
  • Cultural Immersion
* What could be improved?
  • Courseload
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known and believed in my Spanish speaking abilities; I think not being confident in myself kept me from experiencing the maximum level of growth, which says a lot considering the amount of growth I did experience.

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!