A Stolen Season Past Review
By Orla O (International Relations And Global Studies, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 02/13/2012 to 07/07/2012 with
IFSA: Buenos Aires - Argentine Universities Program
It was absolutely worthwhile because it gave me a strong sense of confidence to know that I could be so independent outside my comfort zone. The second to last week of my time of South America, I traveled to Brazil by myself for 10 days, without knowing Portuguese and it was one of the best opportunities I've ever experienced. I don't think I would have ever been able to do that without choosing the IFSA Butler Intermediate Spanish Program. Additionally, one of the greatest pieces of knowledge I gained from my experience abroad was how much security I have in the U.S. Not only did I learn to appreciate another culture, but it allowed me to take a step back and appreciate my own. Until my experience abroad, I never fully comprehended how much security (health care, education, job) my own country has provided for me.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad del Salvador |
| 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. |
Besides the core classes, in the Spanish grammar course, I felt that I was reviewing more than learning new material. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very helpful staff, always available for any matter or concern. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had an amazing host family who I miss dearly! They made me feel like I was at home. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There were many opportunities to integrate into the local culture. I feel that I could have taken advantage of more of them so at times I felt like I spent too much time with the people in my program instead of branching out. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
It was quite expensive in Buenos Aires. Since lunch isn't provided in the program, you have to eat out. An average plate with tax usually costs between $10-15. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Go to the supermarket instead of cafes for lunch and use public transportation instead of taxis. |
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 |
There was one class where the teacher tried speaking English a lot but other than that, we were required to speak in Spanish the entire time. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | Spanish 4 |
| 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? | Make friends with local people, involve yourself in a volunteer activity, and just force yourself to speak the local language, it requires a lot of work. |
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? | 10+ |
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? | I wish I had known that I was qualified for the advanced language program by taking a placement exam before I applied for the program. Also, I didn't realize that so many people in Buenos Aires would speak English because there are so many bilingual schools. |
