My true home Past Review
By Connor N (Accounting & Finance, University of Louisville) - abroad from 05/21/2014 to 07/26/2014 with
ISA Study Abroad in Sevilla, Spain
Too much was learned for words. The amount of personal growth and inner peace I experienced was amazing. It was beyond worthwhile.
Personal Information
| 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. |
Best and most interesting classes I have ever taken. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Staff was amazing. Went above and beyond to help us out. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host family. |
| * Food: |
I miss it everyday! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Staying with a host family made me feel very integrated. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have any experiences with health care but they seemed adequate. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safer abroad than I do at home. |
| 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) |
You can budget all you want but money is spent very easily abroad. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | about 250 a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Honestly I don't. I spent a lot of money but it was worth it. My only advice is to bring as many day to day items as possible so you don't have to buy them abroad. |
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 |
I took only business classes but the staff encouraged us to speak the language with them and my host mom only spoke Spanish so I had to use it constantly with her. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 202 |
| 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 Spanish books, listen to Spanish music and try your hardest to minimize speaking English |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
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? | I wish I would have spoken more Spanish while there. |
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! |
