Tell me more:
Barcelona: A Great Introduction to Life Abroad
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:
Christopher M. (Economics, Harvard University) on September 15, 2011
Overall Rating
Personal Information
| * Start Date: | 2011-06-05 |
| * End Date: | 2011-07-09 |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
There was a lot of class time. Work wasn't overly difficult, but there was a lot of it. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They're helicopter administrators. Can't let you be college students. They micro-manage everything to a negative extent. |
| * Housing: |
|
| * Food: |
My host mom was an unbelievable cook. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Great kids, great city. I highly recommend Montserrat, Montjuic, and all the usual aspects of Barcelona. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Don't go on Las Ramblas at night alone. |
|
* Home Institution Advising:
How well did Harvard University 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) |
|
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Host family, other students, teacher. I did use the language in every day interactions, although a lot of people also did speak English. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * 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? | Come with an open mind. You get as much out of the experience as you try to. |
| * What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? | Absolutely. I might choose a program with more flexibility for traveling on weekends, but on the whole I had a very rewarding experience. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Past and Present in Barcelona |
| Course Department: | HIST 3001 BARU |
| Instructor: | Roser Bosch |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Wasn't challenging, but it made great use of location and had a lot of relevant, interesting field trips. The teacher was well prepared, and class participation was frequent. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No problems so far. |