Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Past Review

By (Industrial Engineering., SUNY - Binghamton) for

Spain Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Everything was amazing: the people I met there, the teachers, the tours. I really want to get a job where I could travel around the world after this trip.

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The whole trip was a dream come true, this program was perfect because I got to finish my Spanish minor and Study in Spain. The teachers were great and the location of the program was also amazing.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program size was good, it would have been nice to have AC while in Spain.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

First 2 weeks in hotel Hotel Natali and the other 4 weeks at a dorm called Colegio Mayor Mara <br /><br /> The food at the school was not good most people just ate bread and did not eat the meals. The rooms were a decent size and the individual bathrooms were very nice, it would have been amazing if the dorm had AC in the rooms.

* Food:

The food was not typical Spain foods it was just food of any kind and once we arrived at the school the food got worse. The dorm food was just like a middle school it was one choice if you did not like it then you were kinda screwed, it would be better to have more options.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

During the first two weeks the teachers had daily activities to make us have fun, see Spain and get to know each other it was amazing!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I would walk by my self in Malaga and Madrid and I took the metro alone. I never felt unsafe or in harms way.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $1000
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Be careful with money in the beginning, and note how much money you are spending on food. Food is the one thing people over spend on since they think it is necessary but that does not mean one should spend everything on money

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

All my classes were taught on Spanish and I learned so much Spain vocabulary, which is great since most of the vocabulary I have learned is mostly South American.

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? A Spanish minor or major would benefit from this program.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Hispanic Short Stories
Course Department: Spanish 4930
Instructor: Bermudes
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Class was great. The teacher really tries to get all the students to enjoy the class and the stories read are all great.
Credit Transfer Issues: do not know yet
Course Name/Rating:

Advanced Conversation: Business

Course Department: Spanish 3241
Instructor: Sovejano
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Class was good, we spent more time reading than actually talking but we did learn a lot of business vocabulary.
Credit Transfer Issues: Will find out when I get to school
Course Name/Rating:

Conversation

Course Department: Spanish 2241
Instructor: Paco
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The teacher was great, we talked about everything from politics of America and Spain to movies and books. The class was focused on getting the students to talk about anything as long as it was in Spanish and to teach new Spain vocabulary.
Credit Transfer Issues: I do not know yet, I hope I do not have any issues.