Past Review
By Kendall D (Nursing., New Mexico State University) for
Spain Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
Yes it really was. This trip has been one of the most educational, interesting, and fun vacations of my life. I had to grow up a little while I was there as it was my first vacation without my parents, but it wasn't all that hard. I gained many friends over there as people were nice and willing to help me out most of the time. I have now gotten over the Spanish hurdle where you can understand everything but you can't speak it.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | University of Malaga |
| The term and year this program took place: | Summer 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The grammar part was fast paced and intense, The conversation left a little something to be desired. Learning the grammar and piecing it together in real life outside of class reinforced concepts quickly. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. My only complaint is some of them didn't speak any English which I am convinced would have saved some hours of confusion with some concepts and words. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was a very good deal as far as price goes. The host mom was much more nice and dedicated to this than I was expecting. |
| * Food: |
Nothing is spicy over like I thought. I don't really like tiny fish of any type either.. Bull tail isn't worth the money |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There isn't much to do other than go out to eat and spend money during the night, but the day has hundreds of things you can do. |
| * Safety: |
I didn't get sick over there.. Enough people were on the main streets all the time that there wasn't much of a problem if you stuck to those. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Have back up money ready in case you miss a flight. Some local bars have way better food and are a lot cheaper than the tourist ones, and all you need to do is ask your host mom or teacher where. |
Language
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I am now able to communicate instead of just understand and slowly work out what I should have said. |
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Take the full semester if you can, I feel like I learned almost everything in the last two weeks and wished I could stayed just a bit longer. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Grammer |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Amelia |
| Instruction Language: | Spainsh |
| Comments: | Amelia was a very dedicated, hardworking teacher. At times we couldn't easily convey a concept and it would have same much more time if it could have been explained partially in English. Homework was just right, as she understood most of the learning would happen outside the class |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
