Super fun time traveling, but classes were not what I expected Past Review
By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/06/2017 to 06/10/2017 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Cordoba, Spain
I learned a lot about living on my own because Middlebury College is a bubble and you don't have to deal with a lot of the things you normally deal with outside of school
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was not what I expected. The teachers treated me like a Spaniard so I was graded more harshly than other international students. Professors also don't understand that the Middlebury Program ends in June so we have one chance to take there finals which are worth 70%+ of our grade, most Spaniards have 3 chances during the summer to retake their exams while we have one chance then we must leave. Because the school is so big professors don't care if you're struggling with the language they will just fail you. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
We didn't have an administrator on site but we had wonderful mentors who helped us find housing and took us around the city to appreciate the beauty and culture of Cordoba |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Overall the place was nice, cheap, and close to campus. My only problem was that one of the guys I was living with was really messy and I had to share a lot of space with him, but that should be expected |
| * Food: |
The food was delicious, I would try to go out and eat 2-3 a week and it was amazing. For the most part I made my own food or made food with friends. There was a grocery store not too far from where I lived so I had fresh produce frequently |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt welcomed and safe. Everyone was friendly and it was fun to partake in a lot of the cultural events that took place in the city. My one problem was that my Spanish is different from the Spanish spoken in Spain so I would stand out or be misunderstood when I spoke which wasn't a big deal but still worth mentioning. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care is such a hassle. You have to go through a process to get your insurance approved before a doctor gets to see you. I got Strep throat while in Spain and I went to a clinic which was a 30-45min walk from where I live. When I got to the place the lady at the desk said they couldn't help me because I needed to call my insurance to see if they approved the session. So I left and emailed my insurance and they didn't respond until a few days later and by that point I was feeling better so I didn't bother. We need a health care system where you can just walk in and get checked because people's conditions will get worst by the time they can finally see a doctor. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | NO |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | Two Mexican Female Icons |
| 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? | Try to be a talker with everyone you meet and don't be discouraged |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Make the best of your time because you never know when you'll be back |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Historia de América Latina |
| Course Department: | Historia |
| Instructor: | Marta Lopez Manchado |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
