CIEE: Barcelona - Summer Language and Culture Photo

Barcelona: Living the good life

A Study Abroad Program Review For

CIEE: Barcelona - Summer Language and Culture

Program Information

If you want to study business in this vibrant and exciting city during the summer, then this program is for you! You will be surrounded by students who are preparing to work in the realm of public or private business with an international focus.

Program Snapshot

* Experience the vibrant and fascinati... More

Provider: CIEE
Location(s): Barcelona, Spain
Year Founded:
Website Take me there!

Review By:

Bob R. (Finance, The University of Texas at Austin) on December 01, 2011

Overall Rating

Personal Information

* Start Date: 2011-06-06
* End Date: 2011-07-08
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My spanish level doubled! Very happy about that

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

There were too many rules when we traveled around. Most people were 21, and everyone was over 18 so it was silly that it was looked down on to drink or go out at night to party.

* Housing:

* Food:

Great variety, really got to try it all!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

great parties and nightlife. plenty to do around the city during the day.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt safe the whole time. However I was nervous about pickpockets, but nothing was stolen from me

* Home Institution Advising:

How well did The University of Texas at Austin prepare and support you for your time abroad?

Finances

* 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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? My friends who studied through IES paid a much lower fee. I'm not sure why though

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 2 years of college
Language acquisition improvement?

Most people on the program spoke English, but I practiced spanish while at school, with my host family, and with my friends who live in Barcelona

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

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • An interesting city with an interesting culture. Catalunya was a great place for me. The field trips were very fun an helped me get bonded with the other students
* What could be improved?
  • I didn't like that the people who came with us on trips were so strict.
* If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program? Yes
* What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? yes