Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Travel, Adventure, Spanish August 26, 2025

By (International Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/26/2025 to 07/04/2025 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Buenos Aires

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained Spanish skills and a new sense of adventure.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I would rate the academic rigor and resources a five. I was able to get help from my teachers and my peers if I needed help.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I believe that the host countries administration program was amazing. All the teachers were very friendly and they were definitely there for you when you need it.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved my host family. They were friendly and welcoming. I will never forget my experience with them.

* Food:

I enjoyed my host family’s cooking, but I also enjoyed Argentina’s food in general.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was able to integrate well into my classes and made many friends there. I was also able to find activities outside of class to integrate into the local culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

for me, I believe that the healthcare system there was great. I sprained my ankle from running during my time abroad and the hospital there was able to treat me effectively.

* Safety:

I felt very safe in the city and followed the advice of the on-site institution.

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

I loved the program!

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)

I personally didn’t follow a strict budget.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? unsure
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? n/a

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

I feel as though everyone was very encouraged to use Spanish as the main 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? 300 level
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? just really lean into the experience and use your host family as a guide to help you practice Spanish.

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
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 university
  • My host family
  • Argentina in general
* What could be improved?
  • orientation
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? n/a

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Introduccion al Periodismo
Course Department: Journalism
Instructor: Prof. Hernan
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: At first, the class was challenging because a lot of the assignments required writing in Spanish. I also found it super interesting that the class included interviews in Spanish because the class was centered around journalism. So I would say that you definitely get a well rounded understanding of Spanish after taking this class.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Planificacion de RRPP
Course Department: Journalism
Instructor: Prof Gentile
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This class required a lot of interactive activities, such as presentations. It really helped my speaking ability in Spanish. It also was a subject that expanded my understanding on how companies are run and the marketing behind companies.
Credit Transfer Issues: no