Past Review
By Grace B (Public and Community Service, Providence College) for
University of Seville / Universidad de Sevilla: Seville - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Yes, definitely. My Spanish improved a tremendous amount in just one semester. I was able to live independently.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
| The term and year this program took place: | Spring 2010 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
All of my classes were geared towards American students studying Spanish. Some were at the advanced level while others were at the intermediate level. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our Resident Director, Michael Marfe, was available 24 hours a day to help us with anything. He was very knowledgeable about the program for foreign students and about general information pertaining to Spain and travel abroad. The SUNY program had less than 20 students, but there were hundreds of American students at the University. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartments were adequately furnished and maintained. They were about a 20 minute walk from campus. The apartment building where all the SUNY students live is called Huerta del Ray in Nervion. The neighborhood was upper-middle class with plenty of stores. At first I appreciated living with American students but then realized the experience would have been more beneficial if I lived with a host family. <br /><br /> All necessities were provided for, the neighborhood was safe, but there was not much going on in terms of culture/restaurants/nightlife. As I mentioned, we were a 20 minute walk from the University and the heart of the city. |
| * Food: |
I liked being able to buy my own food and cook for myself, but I was definitely jealous of people who had senoras to cook for them everyday. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We all lived in the same building so there was plenty of time for social bonding, but unfortunately we stuck to American non-academic activities most of the time. Our program trips to Cordoba and Granada were great. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I did not have any health concerns. My neighborhood, Nervion, was very safe. Our building had a 24 hour doorman. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save money on things like lunch by bringing you own. Walk as much as possible so you don't have to take public transportation. Most museums have free days. Don't use the landline if you are staying in Huerta del Rey. |
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I worked with the Universidad de Sevilla Intercambio program which was definitely helpful in improving my Spanish skills. My professors were not very approachable after class, but they were very helpful during class times. I definitely used Spanish in everyday interactions at the supermarket, in classes, and with people on the street. The only people that spoke English were my fellow American Students and my Resident Director. |
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?
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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? | This was a great program for me, and was less expensive than most others. If given the chance though, I would encourage students to live with a host family. If for some reason a student has health issues/would just rather live in an apartment this program was great. All of my classes were at the University and our Resident Director was incredibly helpful. Our field trips were especially nice since our program was so small. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Semantica Espanola |
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