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Life Altering Experience in Bilbao!
API (Academic Programs International): Bilbao - University of Deusto
Program Information
Established in 1886, the University of Deusto is located in the heart of the city. Students study Spanish at the university’s department for visiting students, the Cursos Internacionales Deusto de Español (CIDE). Located across from the Guggenheim Museum, the University of Deusto has an enrollment of 14,000 un... More
| Provider: | Academic Programs International (API) |
| Location(s): | Bilbao, Spain |
| Year Founded: | 1997 |
| Website | Take me there! |
Review By:
Rachel D. (Speech Communication, Colorado State University) on November 07, 2011
Overall Rating
Personal Information
| * Start Date: | 2011-06-28 |
| * End Date: | 2011-07-31 |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors who taught the classes were from the area, but also were professors from the U.S. as well so the teaching methods were similar although we talked about differences. I really thought it was well organized, especially having the language classes combine once or twice a week with the Spanish students learning English. The grading system was fair, and similar to American Universities, the work load I thought was the right amount for Summer school. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The support by my program director was excellent, she was always available if I had questions or a problem. |
| * Housing: |
I absolutely LOVED my host family and still keep in touch with them, and plan to visit again soon! They treated me as if I were family and really cared about me! |
| * Food: |
I am lactose intolerant and gluten sensative...my host mom was amazing! The food she cooked was so healthy and she eats similar to me as well so it worked out perfect! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Anything that had to do with my host family, I went paddle boating on la ria with her and her son! I went kayaking with my friends host mom, I went to the pamplona festival and stayed all day, played soccer, went to the beach, went cave climbing....there's too much! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Bilbao was a very homy and safe city! I felt safe walking by myself places! I got a lil cold but nothing serious, but my host mom and my program director were very helpful and medical attention was available if needed! |
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* Home Institution Advising:
How well did Colorado State University prepare and support you for your time abroad? |
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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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I thought the language courses were just okay, I didnt feel myself improving from if I were to take it at my home University. What did improve my language was living with a host family and really emerging myself in the culture and forcing myself to speak spanish. I used the host country's language everyday, not many people spoke english in Bilbao, which was good for me! |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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 did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program? | Yes |
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Don't hold back doing something because you are unsure...Just Go For It and do everything you want to do! Have no regrets and you will go back a changed person!! Anyone and everyone would benefit from this program, especially those who want to really learn Spanish! |
| * What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? | Yes! I gained confidence, independence, sense of self. I have caught a love for the culture over there and Bilbao now feels like a home to me. I want to return to europe to travel more and work...maybe teach English abroad! |