Past Review
By V M (Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies., The College of William and Mary) for
William and Mary: Seville - William and Mary in Seville
Learning how to live in a foreign country is invaluable. The experience of living with a host family is invaluable. Make sure this is something you want to do, obviously, for your own reasons, but if you have your own reasons for studying abroad, you'll definitely be able to appreciate this program. Plus, the fact that W&M's program is cheaper than most and that the credits transfer seamlessly doesn't hurt.
Personal Information
| 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. |
I learned a lot of new things, but in classes that were mostly students from other American universities it was...a change. Still, getting 10s (As) required effort, and the classes were interesting. The professors are Spaniards who have been willing to take on classes with a language barrier, which in my experience meant they were all pretty good at teaching. In my experience, 5/5 of them were highly understanding and helpful, without going too easy on us for being Americans. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Residence lady was wonderful. My impression is that MundoLengua (the program W&M works with) is very interested in the students being as happy and comfortable as possible. I never hesitated to go talk to them when I needed to. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host family. |
| * Food: |
Having limited control over what and when I ate was an adjustment. It's an adjustment that can be made, but if you live with a host family be prepared for it. For the most part you take what you get when you get it. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Everyone's experience is different. Just know that culture shock is normal and that if/when it happens to you you will probably convinced that it's not. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe. But for God's sake don't get drunk, it's not done here and you'll be asking for trouble. Also, obviously, walking around a city alone at night is something you do with caution. |
| 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? | You have to pay for your Metro fare |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I had to make a conscious effort not to speak English. At the University Pablo Olavide there is a foreign students bubble almost entirely full of people who want to speak in English. However, if you speak to people in Spanish even if they address you in English it's totally acceptable...I mean, we're in Spain. You just have to be willing to speak in Spanish without encouragement, if speaking skills are what you're after. I would not recommend the university's intercambios. |
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? | Speak in Spanish. It might be painful at first but it'll add up and you will seriously surprise yourself. It's not respectful to have conversations in English in public in a foreign country. Don't add to people's stereotypes. Americans don't exactly love it when native Spanish speakers speak in Spanish around the States. Sometimes culture shock catches up with people and they don't want to care about that stuff, but be sensitive. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Sevilla y la comunidad |
| Course Department: | HISP 399 |
| Instructor: | Asenjo |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | The professor was wonderful; it was the class that was a chore. Still, I think it was very worthwhile to gain more social and political understanding of southern Spain. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Spanish civilization and culture |
| Course Department: | SPAN 315a |
| Instructor: | Ruiz-Cruimor |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Very, very worthwhile, if you're into the civilization-and-culture genre. Probably helped by the professor being great, but the material was almost always interesting on its own. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Traduccion Ingles-Espanol |
| Course Department: | SPAN 381b |
| Instructor: | Pachecho-Costas |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | A great class. Translating is obviously incredibly practical; you learn idioms and ways of expressing yourself in Spanish that for me were invaluable. Translation theory took up only the first couple weeks of the course and then it never came up again. Also, if you have this professor, you have been blessed! She's great. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
