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Program Information
This program is designed for students at any language level with a strong interest in business and economics (classes taught both in English and Spanish). Students who are motivated to develop their Spanish language skills and learn about Spain and Europe through living in the unique and beautiful city of Barc... More
| Provider: | CIEE |
| Location(s): | Barcelona, Spain |
| Year Founded: | |
| Website | Take me there! |
Review By:
Julia D. (Marketing, Villanova University) on January 17, 2012
Overall Rating
Personal Information
| * Start Date: | 2011-09-06 |
| * End Date: | 2011-12-22 |
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | ESCI |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
CIEE was overall not a good program. We had to take a class at ESCI (a spanish university) and the teachers could barley speak english. The CIEE classes were interesting though and I think I learned a lot. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Programs weaknesses were the lack of internet and the mandatory group projects. I do not mind group projects however there was no where to meet with our groups because the study center would close at 7 every night. And during the days we usually had class for very long (every class was 2 hours). On a typical day I would leave my dorm at 830 and not get home until 8 at night. This did not give me time to see Barcelona during the week. |
| * Housing: |
Safety was not good, people got jumped right outside where we lived, however it was close to the center of Barcelona. |
| * Food: |
Tapas were pretty good,and overall Barcelona was not too expensive. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Barcelona night life is unreal. However this does not have to do with my program. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
There is a lot of pick pocketing in Barcelona |
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* Home Institution Advising:
How well did Villanova 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 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
my friends and I spoke more English than Spanish. |
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? | No |
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Spain as a country can become very frustrating because they are very slow and inefficient. |
| * What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? | Studying abroad was the best thing I have ever done. I really enjoyed learning about international companies (I am an international business co major) |