Unforgetable experience that i will look back and be satisfied with. Past Review
By Saúl P (Criminal Justice, University of Colorado - Denver) - abroad from 03/03/2012 to 07/13/2012 with
Study Abroad Programs in Argentina
This experience has definitely been worth my while. Going into college i was always told in order for me to succeed i would have to be independent and have time management. Well during my time in Bs As, Argentina I learned that being independent isn't always the best things to do. I isolated myself and missed out on opportunities to experience things with others. I learned thankfully before midway into the program that i could share those times with others. I enjoyed the time here. School was a different subject. The education system here really did open up my eyes to the world and how to look at things from out side the box. Living and going to to school in the U.S only allowed me to see so much but now that experienced a different culture and different education system i can think of things differently.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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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? |
Housing was great! Awesome host mom. I really felt like home when i would get back from program trips. |
| * Food: |
Great! different, good and definitely experiencing the culture. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt right into place as soon as i got here. People were asking me for directions, how to say (translate) words but what i mostly intrigued me was the different words used in the Spanish language. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * 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) |
I had a budget and learned eventually to use it. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50 |
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 |
Every time. At dinner, at school. Anytime the director would hear someone using English they would encourage students to speak Spanish. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | AP Spanish |
| 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? | Definitely speak to local people. Grab a student whom is whiling to speak and correct mistakes made during a conversation. Practice makes perfect and there is only so much text books can do. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | I fell well prepared coming into the program knowing i would experience so much but i would have to say that going into this program i wouldn't have expected to gain so much. |
