Falling all over myself until I figured out how to speak! Past Review
By Sarah S (Technical and Business Writing., Berea College) - abroad from 01/24/2013 to 04/22/2013 with
KIIS: Sevogia - Experience Segovia Spring Semester Program
I learned that countries may separate us but there is an important human element that makes a country what it is. Spain is not a land mass, it is home to my family, to my friends, to beautiful culture and history and to adventures! It was sooooo worthwhile. I can't wait to go back.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
For me the course work was difficult but I had only had two Spanish classes prior to going and I had a lot of catching up to do. After the first month or two I felt a remarkable improvement in my Spanish and my classes seemed much easier. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Fernando was very attentive and worked very hard to help every one of us when we needed help (from everything to taking us to the doctor to helping us get our ATM cards out of the ATM!) |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my family sooooooo much! And the house was always clean and nice. They became like my family away from home! |
| * Food: |
Maybe it was just my family, but we had fried food every night. She would have fried soup if she could have. So I got sick pretty often, but that may not have been everyone's experience. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I made a constant effort to social with my family, their friends and to take outside classes with community members so that I would be able to find friends and have locals to ask questions and show me all the cool things about Segovia. I had a bunch of friends (and I miss them all so much!) |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Spaniards think different things about health care, so understanding that their cultural outlook on what makes you sick and what makes you better went against everything I have ever learned about anatomy and physiology, but they tried really hard to help you out and people who were really sick were taken to the hospital when it was necessary. |
| * Safety: |
It was really safe, it's such a small town that nothing ever happens. |
| 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) |
They only things I ever had to buy were occasional lunches on excursions and clothes that i just wanted, I barely spent anything in Spain (though I didn't go on as many trips on weekends as others did and therefore spent less than anyone else). |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Maybe 5 euros or less. My host mom always kept me fed, I didn't need to buy food. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I had saved double the amount I thought I would need and was able to travel of 5 weeks after the program had ended. To save money I slept in airports, I bought food from grocery stores and made food to last me for several days rather than eating at restaurants and I went to free attractions (some things have discounts or are free with the ISIC card, so take it everywhere because every little penny helps!) |
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 the time. We had to put coins in the English jar if we spoke English in the classroom or in the center. So We spoke Spanish in class only, and out host families didn't know English so we spoke spanish at home too. |
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | SPN 103 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | I listened to music in Spanish and watching videos on YouTube made by native Spaniards helped me practice the accent, learn idioms, and get used to listening to people talk so fast. |
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 |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had known that the people in the program would be about the same level as myself in terms of conversation. I was so intimidated int he beginning, I would have saved myself many sleepiness nights had I known that we were all just beginners. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
