Season of growth & adventure Past Review
By emilygrace.bennett (Auburn University) - abroad from 01/09/2013 to 04/24/2013 with
Instituto Franklin-UAH: Alcalá de Henares - Study Abroad in Spain
I learned a ton of Spanish; I learned a lot about myself; I learned about relationships and cross-cultural lines of difference and sameness.
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. |
Rosi was an amazing professor, as were Carlos and Saturnino. I was slightly unimpressed with the quality of instruction and organization for the Service Learning course, but I did appreciate the experience in the classroom which accompanied the course. |
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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? |
I had an amazing host family and roommate; we all keep in touch to date. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I had very few local friends. |
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150- including travel; which I did a lo of |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take advantage of the opportunity you have to travel to many places on the weekend. Save beforehand and seek the cheapest flight/getaway vacation options without compromising your desires to visit specific places. |
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 |
Thank you for administering all course instruction in Spanish |
| 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? | Business Spanish 1; Syntax; Phonetics; Composition |
| 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? | Dive in- use Spanish with all of your Study Abroad friends; even the American ones |
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 wish I would have known how quickly the time would pass and that I should have focused from day 1 on language immersion, rather than waiting until February |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
