Ideal study abroad at University of Buenos Aires Past Review
By Laura O (Business Honors & Marketing, The University of Texas at Austin) for
IFSA: Buenos Aires - Argentine Universities Program
Yes, this experience was definitely worthwhile. I learned a lot about Latin America and the challenges there. I really enjoyed Argentina and loved all the things to do in Buenos Aires. I met a lot of great friends in my program and think very highly of IFSA programs.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | University of Buenos Aires |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I like my professors a lot and I felt the material was very interesting and workload was perfect for the amount of time we spent there. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were very accessible to us and provided assistance when students had problems. They gave us a lot of important information and recommendations. My expectations were met. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in Almagro, a barrio close to the university I attended in Buenos Aires. I loved living with my house mother and her dog. We got along very well and she was very helpful and considerate. <br /><br /> I felt very safe in my building. I was very close to the university but farther away from most of the bars and clubs. When I moved in, i only had to purchase products like shampoo and conditioner. I did not have to purchase sheets or cookware. My house mother treated me like a family member and friend. I loved living with her. |
| * Food: |
I enjoyed my meals in Buenos Aires, particularly dining out. There is a wide variety of restaurants in the city that are very good and many places near the university to have lunch in between classes. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I liked all the organized events and trips that IFSA arranged. They were varied and usually very enjoyable. I tried to attend all of the events. I particularly liked the shows and dinner trips. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I thought the program did a good job of teaching us about safety issues in Buenos Aires. I feel that the majority of times, safety was up to the individual and how smart or aware the individual was being at the time the incident occurred. Safety issues were the same in Buenos Aires as in any other large city. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would eliminate the orientation stay at the Estancia to lower the cost of the program. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | SPN 312L, the fourth semester of lower division Spanish at UT Austin |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced with my host mother, my professors, and my classmates. I definitely needed to use the host country language everyday, as my host mother spoke no English and many of the people I interacted with at restaurants and stores did not speak English either. From what I observed, the majority of people in Buenos Aires did not speak English. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you are interested in Latin America, I would recommend this program. Also, this program provides a lot of opportunities to get to know the other American students in your program. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Castellano |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Cruz Tamae and Lucia Tennina |
| Instruction Language: | Castellano, Spanish |
| Comments: | It was challenging but our professors made it very enjoyable too. They were very well-prepared and knowledgeable. I participated as much as a could, which is usually what I try to do at my home institution if I enjoy the class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Not as of yet. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Historia Argentina |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Gabriela Fernandez |
| Instruction Language: | Castellano, Spanish |
| Comments: | It was extremely interesting material to study. Our professor was very knowledgeable and gave us a well-rounded view of Argentina's history and culture. I thoroughly enjoyed the class and tried to participate as much as I could. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I have not had any issues yet. |
