An immersive Spanish experience Past Review
By A student (Eastern Illinois University) - abroad from 01/28/2019 to 05/16/2019 with
University of Salamanca: Salamanca - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned a lot about the Spanish language, culture, and history- not to mention valuable life skills.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The office workers were helpful and emails were replied to in a reasonable amount of time. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was very sweet, and my lodgings were comfortable and clean. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Salamanca has a smaller town feel and less English is spoken there than a metropolis like Barcelona or Madrid. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There were several pharmacies in the area. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt uncomfortable walking in the city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
To do it again, I would join a 3rd party program because it'd be easier to meet other people. |
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? | Normally 20 euros but if I travelled during the weekend then it was more like 120 euros. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Look for student discounts (such as the Alsa bus youth member one) and if you like snacking it's cheaper to buy more at a supermarket than a candy store or bakery. |
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 |
In my two Spanish-speaking classes, we only spoke 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | An advanced course on Argentina literature and culture. |
| 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? | Go out and do things such as ordering at a restaurant or seeing a movie in the language. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 0 |
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 knew that there would be no classes on Fridays. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
