Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Greatly improved my Spanish and my self-confidence! Past Review

By (Barnard College) - abroad from 02/20/2012 to 07/07/2012 with

IFSA: Buenos Aires - Argentine Universities Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Very worthwhile. My Spanish is much better and I gained confidence from living alone in a foreign and challenging setting.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: University of Buenos Aires IFSA-Butler courses
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.

Courses at the U of Buenos Aires were very academically challenging!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

A bit disorganized in terms of disseminating information about deadlines, etc.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Lived with a lovely host family.

* 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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $80-100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Keep a budget from the beginning!

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Advanced Language Through Content (Spanish 5)
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+

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

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • All courses were in Spanish
  • Group activities were organized
  • got to take courses with Argentinean students
* What could be improved?
  • Some of the IFSA courses were too lecture-based, rather than discussion-based
  • Perhaps setting up each student with an Argentine language partner to facilitate language practice and to help us meet Argentine students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You have to be very proactive about making friends in a foreign country--you must introduce yourself, collect emails and phone numbers, and follow up in order to make friends!