An eye opening challenge. Past Review
By A student (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/20/2012 to 06/25/2012 with
University of Valencia: Valencia - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
How to speak spanish and function in a society with different values. Also how to make friends in a different way.
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. |
Class attendance felt optional and the structure of the courses were such that they felt easy until you got to exams then some structure and guidance in the classes would have been helpful. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I received one response to my emails throughout the semester. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Affordable and nice for the price. |
| * Food: |
Cheap and good, especially the grocery store. |
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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? |
You cannot go see a specialist without a general practitioner here. And you cannot get a general practitioner without being a resident. And it is also even more difficult not being an EU citizen. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | No |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $75 a week at the most if I didn't travel or shop excessively. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Live in cheaper housing further from university. It usually isn't much worse and the walk saves you lots of money that you can travel around Europe with. |
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 |
I didn't have a choice. I lived with Spaniards who didn't speak English. |
| 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? | 4th semester Spanish |
| 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? | Read and keep a notebook of new words with their English definitions. It becomes your personal dictionary. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Which classes to take. |
