Spain: culturally opposite of America Past Review
By Timothy H (International Business, Towson University) for
Towson University: Madrid - Spanish Language and Culture
I gained cultural and personal knowledge. My mind expanded a LOT globally and why people see Americans as they do.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Estudio Sampere was great! The made us speak Spanish the whole time and while the content was average, I learned more than in any class because we spoke in a group-class setting for 5 hours each day. I learned more in these 3 weeks culturally from speaking with our professors and attending the excursions than during any semester at Towson. I highly recommend this program, just wish it was 4 weeks so our classes could be more spread out. Also, Dr. Ebacher was extremely helpful/available/knowledgeable. She was another reason my 3 weeks abroad were the best it could have been. The only thing I must suggest: the layover flight at JFK each way was unnecessary. I was living with an American from San Diego who left the same day and flew directly into BWI as his layover, which is our destination. Meanwhile, we have a 6 HOUR layover in JFK to Balitmore. Towson, spend a little more money on the flights, please. I am sure we would not mind spending a little more money ourselves to cut that aspect out. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Estudio Sampere was EXTREMELY helpful with any concerns/problems/questions we had. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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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? |
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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? | over the course of 3 weeks, $1,500 including air/hotel for a free weekend. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | have a budget. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | SPAN 311 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
We spoke Spanish almost 24/7. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | anyone would benefit. Spain is unique in many aspects and I learned a lot. |
