Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Mi Buenos Aires Querido July 26, 2022

By (International Relations, Spanish, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/21/2022 to 07/06/2022 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Buenos Aires

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained confidence in myself, learned to love exploring alone, and independence.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I studied abroad in Mar del Plata, Argentina in high school. I am an International Studies Latin America major and I knew I wanted to be in Latin America. In comparison with the Middlebury programs in Chile and Uruguay, Buenos Aires is a bigger city that offers way more activities and options. Also, Argentina is a huge country and was so fun to explore. I am so glad I chose to return for study abroad in college.

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? Probably less than 75 dollars.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eat breakfast and dinner at home with your host family because that's already included in your rent.

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
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? 350/400 i think? Middlebury recently changed the Spanish department so I think 350's are the old 400.
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? Talk with the other students in your program at the beginning and make a pact to follow the language pledge. Make Argentine friends. Eat dinner with your host family.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • My host family placement
  • Emphasis on career path and independence
  • the language pledge
* What could be improved?
  • More support navigating internships post covid
  • More cultural activities earlier in the program
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I honestly think from prior experience abroad and conversations with Middlebury staff through info sessions I was pretty prepared! Maybe just how much independence is emphasized by Middlebury staff.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Politics and Society in Latin America
Course Department: Political Science
Instructor: Jennifer Cyr
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The academic content was simulating to me. I really enjoyed the country case studies and deep dives into specific country’s political, economic, and social changes in certain moments. I loved the readings and really enjoyed the structure of the lectures. It was mostly a lecture although it was definitely somewhat interactive with lots of questions and we did do practice exercises in groups a few days.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

US Foreign Politics
Course Department: Political Science
Instructor: Nicolás Comini
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was interesting, but did repeat a lot of US history I learned in high school. I would not necessarily recommend it unless the student has never taken an in depth US history course. I saw a more Argentine perspective or outside perspective on how US foreign politics affect the world. It was a lecture course mostly with some practice exercises. I think the practice exercises were great because most were on the war in Ukraine looking at it from various points of view within the US Foreign Policy structure which really forced us to think. I think I saw a more academic view of recent years of US foreign policy (Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden) which I had never studied in depth before.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

Spanish Writing Course
Course Department: Spanish/Middlebury Schools Abroad required course
Instructor: Liria Evangelista
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This course had a grammar aspect and a cultural aspect. For homework we did grammar exercises and read articles or watched movies on a different aspect of Argentine culture each week. Throughout the semester we submitted short essays on our cultural topic of choice. What I loved most about the class was the chance to hear first-hand stories about events in Argentine history and how passionate our professor was about Argentine culture.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A