Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Viva España! Past Review

By (Neurobiology and Neurosciences., Austin College) - abroad from 03/03/2012 to 06/16/2012 with

ISA Study Abroad in Salamanca, Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
A sense of independence, knowledge of my place in the world, perspective on politics, culture, and society.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

All classes were very interactive and hands-on.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Program directors were very friendly, willing to assist with anything, and promoted many cultural activities for our benefit.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was phenomenal; the friendly environment and fun atmosphere allowed me to adjust to the new lifestyle quickly and maximized my Spanish speaking skills.

* Food:

All meals were prepared well and with care.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Excellent community of people- easy to mingle and interact with locals. Many cultural events and activities were also available.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Salamanca is probably one of the safest cities in Spain. The small, tight-knit community makes it less hazardous than other densely populated cities. Students should be most cautious at night, but I found most locals to be trustworthy and caring people.

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)

1=managing european currency during these tough economic times is quite difficult. Everything is expensive and costly! Had I known I was going to travel around Europe as much, I would planned to allocate more money for this trip.

* 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? 50-100 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? All credit and debit cards and withdrawing money from debit cards are charged transaction fees. Most places in Europe only take cash. Purchase a cash-passport card at the airport of your home-city and load up to 200euros on to the card. You can easily monitor your spending, withdrawing cash from the card is free, and money can be reloaded online.

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

All classes and interactions with professors were in Spanish.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Advanced Spanish
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? The best way to practice the language is to interact with the locals. Whether it be ordering food at a restaurant, asking for a different size at the shoe store, or chatting with friends at a sporting event, try to resist speaking in English. Surrounding yourself in the language is the best way to learn vocabulary, grammar, colloquial phrases, etc.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • The city of Salamanca. It's vibrant yet calming atmosphere was inviting and comforting.
  • My host family.
* What could be improved?
  • Communication with AC study abroad office
  • money management tips
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Once in Europe, traveling is a must! Have locations you would like to visit pre-planned to save money and time. Also, everything in Europe is very expensive! Plan monthly budget ahead of time (around 200-250 euros a month).