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Study Abroad Program Review of International Studies Abroad (ISA): Barcelona - Pompeu Fabra University

Submitted by Allison E (Public and Nonprofit Administration,female,Grand Valley State University) on June 22nd, 2010

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Academics
Language
Housing & Food
Culture & Health
Final Opinion

Personal Information

Participation Year:

2009

Term:

Winter

International exposure prior to program?

2 weeks-1 month

Academics Overall

**Overall educational experience:

**Comment:

The courses were not terribly challenging, but I still learned a lot about the various topics. Grading system is a bit more intense in Spain than in the U.S., but I managed to receive high marks. The workload was small, but the courses and professors managed to challenge the students and still teach the subject matter well.

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Course Title:

Arte y Artistas

Course Department and Number:

Art

Instructor:

Ana Pujadas

Language of Instruction:

Spanish

Please comment on the course:

It was a great intro to Barcelona art course that included field trips to museums around the city (free!). Not much homework, but still learned a lot about the subject matter.

Please rate the course overall:

Did you have any credit transfer issues upon return to your home institution? If so, what would you suggest to other students?

I did not have any credit transfer issues with any of my courses because I made sure to communicate a lot BEFORE I even left the states to clarify how the courses would transfer back (how many credits, if grades transferred or just credit/no credit, etc.) and my home university was very prompt on responding to e-mails while I was abroad if I had any questions

Course

**Course Title:

Between Tolerance and Conflict: Christians, Muslims, and Jews in the Iberian Peninsula

**Course Department and Number:

Religion

**Instructor:

Victor Farias

**Language of Instruction:

English

**Please comment on the course:

This was one of the more difficult courses I took, although it was still fairly easy. I never spent much time outside of any of my classes studying or doing a lot of homework. Nevertheless, I still learned a lot about the history of religion in Spain and Barcelona. I almost wish the class would have been taught in Spanish, because it was difficult at times to understand the professor with his thick accent.

**Please rate the course overall:

Course

**Course Title:

Espanol, Nivel Avanzado

**Course Department and Number:

Spanish language

**Instructor:

Maria Trouillhet

**Language of Instruction:

Spanish

**Please comment on the course:

Loved my Spanish language course! The professor was awesome and class was almost always fun. Definitely different than taking Spanish in the states. The course work was a little more intense for this class since it is a language course and four days a week, but still very enjoyable.

**Please rate the course overall:

Course

**Course Title:

Imagenes en el cine contemporaneo

**Course Department and Number:

Film

**Instructor:

Ivan Pintor

**Language of Instruction:

Spanish

**Please comment on the course:

Two days a week (like all the classes except for Spanish language) where we would watch a film one day, and then discuss and have a group present the following day about the film previously viewed. Again, not very difficult but I still learned a lot, not only about Spanish films, but I was able to expand my vocabulary (as well as with the Arte y Artistas course)

**Please rate the course overall:

Language Overall

**Language acquisition improvement?

**Comment:

My Spanish speaking, comprehension, and writing skills definitely improved over the 4-month span. Not only through class, but by interaction with my host family as well as navigating through the city and speaking with Spaniards. It was a bit different in Barcelona because it is a bilingual city with Castillian and Catalan, but I never had any issues with the languages. Most people spoke both and many spoke English in addition. One thing I regret not doing is talking and hanging out more with Spaniards. They tend to be very timid, so it can be difficult to get them to open up. I would not advise going out a lot with a big group of Americans, because it not only targets you for getting mugged, but it hinders your ability to meet new people!

Host Country Program Administration Overall

**On-site administration of your program:

**Please explain the program's strengths and weaknesses:

I loved ISA and never had any problems with the way they ran things. Short informational meetings every once in a while kept us all in check in terms of classes, trips, activities, etc. The office was readily available to use the internet and just chat with the directors. The directors were always willing to help with travel plans, information about the city, and most anything else you needed. We had about 60 students in our session (Winter 1) and ISA handled things really well. Most of the directors are Spanish, so they have a good knowledge about stores, restaurants, festivals, etc. around Barcelona.

Housing Overall

Living arrangements? (all that apply):

Host Family

Who did you live with?

Americans

Host Family

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

**Housing satisfaction:

**Comment:

The homestay where I lived was one of the only complaints I have about my experience abroad. The apartment was farther away from most other students and the main downtown center. I had to take the metro everyday to class, which was about a 45 minute commute all together, but in the end I really didn't mind. There is a good bus and metro system that can easily get you where you need to go. I always felt safe around my homestay and often traveled to and from home with my roommate, who was another study abroad student. There was no need to buy anything since we were with a family, but the Spanish culture is a bit different than most American family settings and it takes a bit of getting used to. We always had to ask to use any food, never cooked ourselves, took short showers (they are careful about water usage), and had to do our own laundry (hanging it up outside on the line and all).

Food Overall

**Food satisfaction:

**Comment:

The food provided in the homestay wasn't bad, but I know that other students had better situations. Since we lived with a family, we were provided 3 meals a day that included a small breakfast (toast, coffee, muffin), a sandwich for lunch (bocadillo), and dinner at home. In my opinion, I felt like most of the time they were just buying the cheapest possible food to feed the international students in the house. I went to a friend's homestay a few times for dinner and the experience was much more enjoyable. Since we were provided with meals, we rarely went out to eat, but when we did the food was always very good. A few recommendations: Juicy Jones, Les Quince Nits, Milk, El Xampanyet (La champaneria), Can Paixano (La Xampanyeria), any shawarma place

Safety and Health Overall

**How well were health issues addressed through your program?

**Safety:

**Comment:

I always felt very safe throughout the semester staying in Barcelona. A few people had problems with muggings, but I feel that as long as you are safe and smart about it, you shouldn't have any problems. You just need to remember that when you are walking at night, to NOT walk by yourself and to try and stay in areas with lots of other people. Wandering off, drunk, and alone is not the way to avoid getting mugged or attacked. I did get sick once during the semester and ISA handled it great. One of the directors took me to the doctor's office in case I needed a translator, but I was just fine and was able to communicate perfectly with the doctor in Spanish. Since we are covered under the ISA health plan, I only had to pay a small amount for the medicine they prescribed (when you go, you pay for the visit at the office and ISA reimburses you later in the mail). Spain is a fairly modern country, so there was no need to get any special vaccines or anything before traveling there.

Money Overall

**How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

General Assessment Overall

**Words of wisdom:

ISA Barcelona is awesome! I loved the city, the people I met, the food I ate, the places I traveled, everyday life was just amazing. If I could do it again, I would in a heartbeat and for a whole year. A lot of cool attractions like mountains, beaches, museums, and architecture in general is so cool and unique in Barcelona. I recommend just wandering around the city with a friend or two a few times a week because there are always new things to discover! Don't focus too much on the people or things back home in the states, because your experience abroad is so unique and awesome that you need not waste time dwelling on what people are doing back home! Jump out of your box and explore, meet new people, and try new things because you definitely won't regret it.

**If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program?

Yes

**Overall satisfaction with your study abroad experience:

**Was your study abroad experience worthwhile?

My study abroad experience was definitely worthwhile. I not only enhanced my Spanish language skills, but I learned so much about other people, the Spanish and Barcelona/Catalan culture, and expanded my horizons and really got out of my comfort zone. My main academic focus at school did not change, but my passion for the Spanish language and culture grew exponentially while in Barcelona. I definitely plan on revisiting Spain again, if not to live there for a portion of my life. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me via e-mail or facebook!

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Study Abroad Program Review of International Studies Abroad (ISA): Barcelona - Pompeu Fabra University

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