A wonderful immersive program for language and culture Past Review
By Sarah Asch (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/31/2018 to 06/15/2018 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Cordoba, Spain
I gained a lot of spanish skills and cultural competency skills as well as life long friends from Spain, the US, and other countries.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I would say that it was academically rigourous in a new and different way. More about understanding and learning how to get help rather than produce my own ideas. The courses were not as interesting as at Middlebury but I learned new things and was engaged mostly speaking. Generally I found professors accommodating and helpful. And when they were not I could usually manage well enough |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
We did not always receive the clearest communication about what support was available and how best to receive that support (such as editing papers, help dealing with landlords). It often turned out there were more resources available that were not explained to us. Also in personal conversations I sometimes found staff members to not be very receptive to my opinions on the program or impressions about cultural differences. When I would make a comment about something I noticed I felt like they often contradicted me or argued with me instead of just listening. I feel like maybe they were trying to teach but it came off as minimizing. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I rented my apartment before I arrived through a connection Middlebury sent me. It was a decent price and super nice location. My roommates weren’t as social as I’d have liked so I didn’t practice too much language development at home but everyone was clean and respectful. |
| * Food: |
I loved local food and I loved cooking for myself. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I did everything I could to integrate myself and I generally found my efforts paid off, although it was difficult. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
It was all pretty easy to deal with. I had to get a blood test and it all went well |
| * Safety: |
Was never nervous about walking around in any part of the city at day or nigh, with a group or alone. But I also lived in a central area so that probabaly helped. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Córdoba is a great place to live if you want a language and culture immersion. Few locals speak English and I found people to be very nice. There were also good ERASMUS events if people are interested. |
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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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 |
We had a language pledge and I was lucky to be in a semester with people who actually followed it and so we spoke Spanish the whole time. |
| 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? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Only speak the language from day one, no matter what, and that will set good habits for the rest of the program |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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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? | To take advantage of the city in the first half of the semester before you have too much school work. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
El legado artístico de al Andalus |
| Course Department: | Historia del arte |
| Instructor: | Alícia carillo calderero |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Super interesting and it was really the profesor who made it the best class I took. Very dynamic and helpful and assigned interesting work |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No problems |
