An unforgettable experience. Past Review
By A student (Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 06/01/2016 to 07/17/2016 with
Spain Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
I learned a lot of history and grammar.
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. |
The teachers were excellent and made learning fun. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program administrators were very helpful and informative. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing was not so great. I really wish my host home would have provided fans or air conditioning. |
| * Food: |
The food in the city itself is great. I wish the host families were a little more considerate of our likes and dislikes. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very integrated. The city and people are very accepting. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Granada was extremely safe. Probably safer than my home city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It was very eye opening experience. I cannot wait to travel again. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make sure to exchange money before your trip with your bank. The fees can be pretty high when abroad. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| 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 303 |
| 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? | Read and talk to the locals |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | I wish I knew that the food was very different and that it would have been better for me to stay in the dorms. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
