Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires Past Review
By Erica G (Anthropology, George Mason University) for
University of Belgrano: Buenos Aires - Summer PEAL, Argentine and Latin American Studies Program
I learned how to live and get around in a city. Once you master that, you can generally get around in any city. My ability and my confidence in speaking Spanish definitely improved.
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 teachers at UB definitely care about their students and love teaching. They took the time to answer any questions we had, and they made being involved in class fun. We learned about the city and the country, in addition to Spanish grammar, which was my favorite part. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
We felt pretty much alone in Argentina, planning in-city excursions, places to eat, and generally just getting around. It was a great learning experience though. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I, along with another girl in my program, stayed in an apartment about 2 miles from campus in the same neighborhood. We had access to the Subte, bus, and taxis to get to school, but most of the time we just walked. Everything we needed at home (beds, blankets, towels, cookware, etc) were provided for us. |
| * Food: |
I struggled a little bit with gluten free (mostly because I did not know where exactly to look, though there is a lot of gluten free food available in Buenos Aires), but the food was delicious! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We visited lots of markets (San Telmo, Recoleta, El Tigre), which were fun for shopping and just as a cultural experience. Visiting Iguazu Falls one weekend was by far the highlight of my trip. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I had no issues with health or safety, but I did not feel threatened when walking to/from school or anywhere at night. Being aware of yourself is very important no matter where you go, and as long as you are careful and aware, you will most likely have no 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
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Since the course we took was a Spanish language course, it was the focus of the entire trip. We practiced with our professors, classmates, homestay families, and just random people on the streets. Spanish was spoken more often than English. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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? | Being immersed in a culture where Spanish is spoken is the best way to learn and get better. It is important to practice as much as you can; try not to rely on English when you have the opportunity to use it. |
