Wonderful, Challenging, and Exhausting Past Review
By Eloise M (Political Science and Government, University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 01/04/2016 to 05/19/2016 with
ISA Study Abroad in Granada, Spain
I felt like I grew a lot through my study abroad experience. I'm very glad I went.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were pretty easy in material but made harder by the fact that they were in Spanish. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Had a really nice office really close to the school. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Loved my host family!!! |
| * Food: |
Spanish food could be a little strange sometimes but my host mom was a really wonderful cook. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never had any health problems but I heard good things from other people that had to go to the clinic. The program provided a translator to be at the clinic with you which was helpful and took some of the stress off. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
If I was going to Spain again I would go through ISA. But if I was to do study abroad over again I would probably go somewhere in South America. Although, if ISA had a program in a city I wanted to go to, I would definitely go with them. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $20 |
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 |
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| 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 203 (Intermediate) |
| 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? | Read!! Read books you've previously read in English (rereading the Harry Potter series in Spanish has been a lot of fun -- and helpful!). |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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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? | What the weather in Spain would be like (it can get cold in the winter -- not snowing cold but need a jacket cold). |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
