ISA Summer Study Abroad in Paris Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Overall I greatly improved my Spanish skills and learned more about the Spanish culture through first-hand experience. With regards to the classroom--the workload was reasonable and allowed plenty of time for leisure activities. Teachers were very helpful and understood that Spanish was students second language.

On-site administration of your program

ISA was very helpful with orchestrating my trip abroad and moreover was available for questions and concerns while in Salamanca. The organization provided several tours of the city and landmarks which helped familiarize students with the city before having to navigate it on their own. Likewise, ISA organized several trips to other cities throughout Spain during my trip. These trips allowed me to see the rest of the country but still offer the security of traveling in a group with people who live in the Spain.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was wonderful. They provided me with three meals a day and laundry once a week. My host mother was very friendly and made me feel at home the day I moved in. The building I lived in was very nice--it was safe and clean and had a homey feeling. The building was about a 10 minute walk from class and a 15 minute walk from the ISA building. This was alright, except when it got dark at night--I did not feel entirely safe making the walk by myself.

The food was wonderful. I ate more than I have ever ate in my entire life and loved the food. My host family did make accommodations for the girls living in their house and tried to cook meals that we enjoyed. The ice cream shop in the Plaza Mayor is a fun place to get a quick treat while walking around town!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I attended several cooking classes arranged by ISA. These were neat hands-on classes where I learned to cook several popular Spanish dishes. I also went on a trip to Sevila, Spain and Italica. Both were wonderful trips.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any health issues while on my trip and therefore cannot speak much about the health issues and how they were addressed. I did not need any vaccines before I left and I do not have much advice for future students. Overall I felt the program was safe and I feel as long as students behave themselves and keep a straight head (i.e. avoid too much alcohol) they will have a fun and safe trip.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I practiced my speaking skills with my American roommate, my host family, program coordinators, professors, and through everyday interactions. The program coordinators spoke English, but insisted on speaking Spanish in most situations. My host family did not speak any English, however this helped me improve my skills because I was force to communicate with them in Spanish.

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Host Family