Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Challenging but rewarding! February 05, 2024

By (Political Science, Middlebury College) - abroad from 07/26/2023 to 12/15/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Buenos Aires

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned Spanish of course and I learned a lot about Argentina's difficult economic/political situation from a local perspective. It was absolutely worthwhile

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 enjoyed the semester and I would definitely choose this program again, but I would not have gone to Di Tella. School was hard and not very enjoyable

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? around $75

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? a level 0300 course
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? Watch movies and TV shows with subtitles in the language you want to learn, it helps and you can learn helpful conversational phrases

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?
  • Host family
  • City life
  • Practicing Spanish
* What could be improved?
  • Internship program
  • Preparation and support for rigorous academics in another language
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? School is going to be hard and demanding

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 Communication
Course Department:
Instructor: Philip Kitzberger
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The class was challenging but in a good way. I learned a lot
Credit Transfer Issues: I don't know yet
Course Name/Rating:

Politics and Society in 19th and 20th century Argentina
Course Department:
Instructor: Mauro Enbe
Instruction Language:
Comments: I had trouble understanding for the first couple of months but once it clicked I loved the class
Credit Transfer Issues: Don't know yet