Past Review
By James B (History And Literature, Harvard University) for
Summer Institute of Hispanic Studies (SIHS): Leon - Summer Institute of Hispanic Studies
It was the perfect way to spend the summer. Everytime I look at my wall I see the document in latin that I got for making the pilgrimage to Santiago. I have so many good memories and learned so much that I get nostalgic for it every day. If you are interested in going to Spain, and want a program with both fun and substance, SIHS is for you.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad de León |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
| 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. |
I took a wonderful art history class with an expert doctoral student. He was wonderful at explaining the history and aesthetics behind each piece. The best part was actually seeing the subjects in person, and being able to judge them for ourselves. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program was very well run, very well structured. They have been doing this for years and I think it is a proven formula. There is a lot of structured time, which I feel is a good thing for students who really want to experience a country at its fullest, rather than just remaining insular and staying with other students. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with a host mother, who was wonderful. She cooked tirelessly for us and made sure that we were comfortable. My roommate was American as well, but we were both required to speak Spanish in the house. The apartment was near the river and I could go running, so I appreciated that. |
| * Food: |
I had some of the best meals of my life on this trip. They make an effort to expose you to all different varieties of Spanish food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I got to go on the Camino de Santiago, which is a 100+km hike through Northern Spain to see the tomb of the Apostle Saint James. It was a memorable experience, on top of an entire month of seeing all of Spain's astounding sights. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
They take good care of you. As long as you are wise and are not flakey about your well-being, you will be fine. I did go to Pamplona, but they made me sign a form saying I would not run. As long as you are responsible, you will be fine. León itself is really safe. I could walk around at night without a problem. |
| 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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Language
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I jumped from Spanish 40 to Spanish 124 upon arriving back in the US. I felt more competent and comfortable in speaking and understanding it. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you really want to get a good feel for Spain as well as a great educational experience, DO THIS PROGRAM. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It balances fun with substance, and you come away with a great group of friends afterwards. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Español 221: Gramática, conversación y composición avanzada |
| Course Department: | Español 221 |
| Instructor: | Noelia González Verdejo |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Not only lots of speaking in Spanish, but plenty of grammatical exercises and practice. Noelia is a lot of fun and very encouraging. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | It was approved for credit. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Español 241: De las Cuevas de Altamira a Picasso |
| Course Department: | Español 241 |
| Instructor: | Isidro Yebra Prada |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | This was a wonderful course, especially given that we got to see a lot of the art and architecture covered in class in person. Isidro is an expert in both history and art. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I got this approved for credit for my major. |
