Unforgettable Past Review
By Gabrielle M (International Relations and Affairs., Wartburg College) - abroad from 09/01/2014 to 12/10/2014 with
SSA Education Abroad: Seville - Semester, Year or Summer in Seville
There are a lot more important things in life than school and work. It was definitely worthwhile to be exposed to another way of life.
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 classes were not intense at all, nor did I feel challenged at any point. This didn't bother me really at the time, because it gave me a lot more time to enjoy the experience and immerse myself in the culture, but now I have to come back to my actual school and studies and I'm going into my hardest semester yet, so I think that little break from real school probably wasn't the best thing for me. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't deal with healthcare issues, so I can't really comment |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50, but none of it was necessary, it was all frivilous spending |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan out the trips you're going to take early and buy the flights and hostels and such for them as soon as possible so you know what money you have left for gifts, clothes, food, etc. |
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? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make friends with natives and avoid your American peers who just want to speak English. It's hard, because it's lonely at first and you don't know anyone and you just want to make friends, but you're only there for a semester and the whole point is to learn Spanish.Don't lose sight of what you're there for. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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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? | That committing to speaking Spanish 24/7 is more important than sacrificing that to make friends just for one semester. |
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.' |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
SP 306B |
| Course Department: | Grammar |
| Instructor: | Milagros Molina |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | The exception to what I stated earlier was this class. This was a GREAT class, and I learned so much from Mila who is a FANTASTIC teacher. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I'm not sure yet, but I don't think I will. |
