Spain: An Amazing Experience in the Making Past Review
By Andrew S (Chemistry Education, Ball State University) for
KIIS: Sevogia - Experience Segovia Spring Semester Program
Spain helped me grow up. I was in a new culture that I knew almost nothing about, and I still had to get an experience out of it while learning and having a good time. I was also thousands of miles away from anyone I knew well, so I had to throw a social aspect into that. While I never really acknowledged any of these things while I was in Spain, in a way, I proved to myself that I could take care of myself in a foreign environment. That experience alone makes me think that Spain was absolutely worth it.
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. |
Since we were covering a semester of material in one month, the workload was intense, especially considering that I was taking 2 classes. That being said, it was never overwhelming, and i always had time to finish and go out into Segovia. The classes were taught be American professors, so the grading system and teaching methods were familiar. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Things seemed to run fairly smoothly while we were in Spain. If anything, I would have preferred more students on the trip, though, since facilities were limited, it may have been hard to fit them into a classroom. My expectations were met overwhelmingly. I loved my month in Spain, and would happily go back if I had the money. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved everything about my housing/living experience in Spain. The neighborhood was definitely safe and looked gorgeous. The walk to class was a bit long (about 10 minutes), but |
| * Food: |
I would recommend not being a vegetarian. It's possible, but you'll miss out on quite a bit of Spanish cuisine. I was always well fed. As for places to dine, use your best judgement. If a restaurant looks nice, chances are they have good food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
All of the field trips had various things that make me remember them. The architecture alone is enough to make anywhere you visit memorable. The castles, cathedrals, mosques, and various other buildings are simply awe-inspiring. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe in Segovia. We were out fairly late at times, but we were never approached or threatened in any way. Mostly, as long as we were all having a good time, nobody bothered us. I didn't have any health issues arise while in Spain. |
| 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced with anyone I could find. Between my host family, natives, and my friends in the program, I got plenty of practice in. We needed to speak Spanish on a day-to-day basis, if for no other reason than conversation around the dinner table. |
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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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? | You need to come in with an open mind. You're going to immerse yourself in a completely new and different culture, and if you come in trying to make comparisons or judgements about their culture, you're going to miss so much. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Spanish Civ and Culture |
| Course Department: | SPAN 373 |
| Instructor: | Ninfa Floyd |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | This class was definitely challenging and made up the majority of my homework. Teacher preparation seemed to vary day-by-day; sometimes she would come in ready, and other she seemed to be making it up on the fly. Due to the relatively low class size, I did have to participate quite a bit. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No problems |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Spanish Cinema |
| Course Department: | SPAN 490 |
| Instructor: | Itza Zavala |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | This course was only marginally challenging. We watched the movies with subtitles on, which definitely helped with comprehension. The professor was almost always prepared and the class proceeded quickly, but never really provided a great deal of challenge. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
