Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Alicante: Best decision I've made. Past Review

By (PSYCHOLOGY., University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse) for

Spain Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I improved a lot in the language. I also gained a lot of self-confidence and appreciation for my life in the US. Prior to leaving, I just wanted to improve my Spanish speaking. Now I want to go back and become fluent.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was appropriate for the credit load. The grading was fair, and it was always clear what was expected of us. The classes were informative and interesting, and the class teaching methods were very similar to that in the US.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

All program administration were very helpful, knowledgeable and approachable. I never felt like I was on my own, and always received help when I needed it.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had the perfect location. I was very close to class, and I was not afraid to leave my house alone at night. I had everything I needed provided for me. I was treated like a family member by my host mom, and we formed a close connection.

* Food:

The food was delicious! I could tell my host mom put time and effort into making quality meals, and I tried and liked everything. I did not eat out enough to provide any recommendations for future students.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I really enjoyed our weekend trip to Granada. We got to see the Alhambra, which was incredible. I also learned a lot from our afternoon excursions. I really enjoyed Murcia. I also learned a lot from our visit to the anatomy lab at the university.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I had no problems with health or safety. It took a little time for me to get comfortable walking alone at night, but I was never put into a bad situation. I did not need medical care, nor did I need any special vaccines prior to departure.

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

I found that the best practice came with speaking to my host mother. Just having the experience helped, as did the hints she gave me during conversations. I used spainsh a lot, but that is why I choose to go to Spain.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Living with a host family- the food was amazing!
  • The city. Perfect size- big enough to have things to do, not too big to be intimidating.
  • The support staff we had- they were there when we needed them, but we got to experience things on our own too
* What could be improved?
  • The communication concerning the excursions. Sometimes we found out really late about the planned activities.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I think this is a program suitable for any student, specifically one interested in improving their abilities in the language. If you are even at all considering it, I think you should do it! You won't regret it.