"Sevilla hasta la muerte!" = "Seville until the death!" Past Review
By Stephanie S (Pre-Nursing, Towson University) for
ISA Study Abroad in Sevilla, Spain
I gained true life-experiences. I got to visit more cities in my three months abroad than ever before in my life.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I think that my program courses had a lighter workload than at my home university. The grading system in Spain is always on a ten point scale where as in the USA it is on percentages and GPA scale. I like the intimate class size and the close contact with professors. The style of the professors varies just like in the USA. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The host administrators were always helpful and available for most of the time (mon-fri). They told us about local spots (restaurants, monuments, parks, etc.) that we should go to visit. They also would go with us to places if we needed or sometimes just if we wanted to sit down and talk. I am very satisfied with the administrators from ISA-Sevilla. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was able to meet one of my roommates before we went to Spain because it turned out that we live in the same city but had never met before. We were very compatible and we tried to emerse ourselves in the local culture. We bought some cookware but were reimbursed by the program director. Luckily pillows, towels, blankets, and bedsheets were left in the apartment by previous students (thought it's uncommon). Because we were in an apartment and not with a host family, we had to buy our own groceries. The apartment was located on a main avenue but we never felt like we were in danger or vulnerable when walking home. It was within walking distance to the school as well as the center of the city. |
| * Food: |
I am a vegetarian and having the freedom to cook my own food really helped my experience because I could cook what I wanted and not have to worry about being hungry or dissatisfied with my meals. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I got to experience religious holidays and an international festival in Sevilla. I also got to experience a soccer match. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I felt safe. |
| 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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I tried not to eat out all the time but I know I spent more money in the beginning before I learned how to shop around. Instead of buying produce at the markets I went to the fruit stores. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make sure that you have cash in hand all the time because credit cards aren't accepted everywhere. Also don't always settle on the first thing you see or the first price you see. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 200 level |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
The Spanish language professors only spoke Spanish in class and the program directors would only speak Spanish if you wanted to. They presented opportunities for "intercambios" or exchanges where students could pair up with locals and practice their Spanish. All the directors and professors spoke English (the levels varied) but they preferred Spanish. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Study Spanish before you go. |
