Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Middlebury Buenos Aires August 03, 2023

By (Environmental Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/28/2023 to 07/14/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Buenos Aires

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I drastically improved my Spanish and learned lots about a culture that is very distinct to mine, from political history to food to social life. It was definitely worthwhile.

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.

* 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 loved spending the semester in Argentina, and this program provided a great opportunity to be immersed in local life by studying with local students and living with a host family. I also got to do an internship.

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? $60
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Use Western Union for the best exchange rate when taking out cash

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? Intermediate
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? Two 300 level classes
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? Use Spanish in your down time (watch tv shows or read books in Spanish), make an effort to have most dinners 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Once a week Middlebury culture class that provided an excellent overview of diverse pieces of local culture
  • Having the option to do an internship in place of another class
  • Pretty hands-off after the first month, students are free to do what they like with their time abroad
* What could be improved?
  • Poor organization of internships, slow start
  • More thoughtful scheduling of group activities throughout the semester to maximize attendance
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? There are lots of bureaucratic hurdles to seemingly simple things in Argentina, so communicate early and often with program directors if you need anything (academics, health, extracurriculars, etc) to save your own time and make sure you're following whatever rules there might be.

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 Adventurer
The 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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Psicología de la Vida Adulta y de la Vejez
Course Department: Psicología
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This class covers very intuitive material so I felt under challenged. However, it was a friendly classroom environment. Assessments included a group presentation, a written midterm, and a written and oral final.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

América Latina en la Política Internacional
Course Department: Ciencias Políticas
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This course was challenging. I participated in class far less than usual because it was purely a lecture-based class. I did not find the lectures particularly engaging but learned a lot from the readings. We were assessed with written midterm and final exams.
Credit Transfer Issues: