I didn't want to leave! Past Review

By A student (Neuroscience and Spanish, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/30/2014 to 05/27/2014 with

PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

My semester abroad was definitely my best semester so far! My Spanish improved so much, and now I feel much more confident in my speaking ability, which was something I was shaky on before. I think planning trips around Europe for myself and my friends really taught me a lot about myself.

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.	I think the most valuable thing I got out of the classes was more of an opportunity to practice my Spanish--most of the PRESHCO classes are small with a lot of class participation/discussion. The PRESHCO classes' workload was not nearly as much as Wellesley's, although the class I directly enrolled in at the University of Córdoba was probably about the same as a typical Wellesley class. I appreciated this balance, though.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	All of the PRESHCO events and trips were excellent--we got to do so many cultural activities, such as attending the city's festivals and the fair, visiting and receiving guided tours of the most famous places in Spain, and taking Spanish dancing and cooking classes. The PRESHCO staff is incredible, and will do everything they can to make sure we are all happy, having a good time in Spain, and practicing our Spanish. We all felt very well taken care of. I think I would have been very confused about how to go about settling into a study abroad experience, particularly in a country that speaks a language that is not my first language, without a support system like PRESHCO to make me feel completely comfortable.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I loved living with a host family--all of the families were close to the university where we took classes, we all had our own bedrooms, and meals with our families everyday.
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I had to go to see an allergist at a hospital in Córdoba. It was a relatively efficient experience, and PRESHCO was very on top of how I was feeling with regard to my allergies, and helped me coordinate getting to the hospital and making the appointment. The PRESHCO staff generally will go with you, if you want them to.
* Safety:	I always felt safe in Córdoba, even coming home in the middle of the night.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

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)	The reembolsos program is great--you get reimbursed for cultural activities. You don't have to pay for food or transportation in Córdoba because we live with host families and the city is small enough to walk everywhere.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	~$15-20/week if I wasn't traveling

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	We always had to speak Spanish with our host families and in our classes. Córdoba was a great city to practice Spanish in, and we had conversation partners who were students at the university we attended and who would invite us to go out with them and their friends.
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	Advanced
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?	SPAN 305
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans 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?	PRESHCO staff/program itself trips with the program "reembolsos" reimbursement program
* What could be improved?	Maybe have a little more variety in class options
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Try to plan out your trips at the beginning of the semester to get better prices, especially for during spring break. Don't be afraid to make mistakes when speaking.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Oral and Written Communciation
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:	This grammar class was extremely helpful! I really appreciated learning grammar in a way that was more detailed and thorough than what I have gotten in college so far. Our class all spoke so much, and I really feel much more comfortable with grammar now. Definitely take this class!
Credit Transfer Issues: