IES Abroad: Barcelona - IES Abroad Barcelona Center Photo

Barcelona: Always learning something new

A Study Abroad Program Review For

IES Abroad: Barcelona - IES Abroad Barcelona Center

Program Information

Study abroad in Barcelona—capital of the autonomous province of Catalonia. The IES Abroad Barcelona program provides students with opportunities to learn or perfect Spanish while studying business and liberal arts.

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

Review By:

Margaret B. (Public Relations, ) on September 06, 2010

Overall Rating

Personal Information

* Start Date: 2010-05-25
* End Date: 2010-07-10
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

IES was in a GREAT location--right in the center of town. The program size was a good size.

* Housing:

The location was great. It was nice not having to do my own laundry or bring my own sheets/towels. My senora was nice but very chatty and overfed us.

* Food:

The food was a lot different than what I normally eat. Our senora also made us huge portions and would insist we eat more.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I enjoyed the IES field trip to Costa Brava because we got to see an area I would have not seen on my own. It was a little too long and too many museums.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

The pick pocketing was bad in Barcelona but other than that it is pretty safe. People drink a lot more over there.

* Home Institution Advising:

How well did your 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?

Most people spoke some English. I spoke spanish with my senora.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family

A Look Back

* 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? If your not the most independent person in the world, go with a friend or with someone you kind of know. You will be very independent by the end of the program.
* What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? It was worthwhile and definitely once in a lifetime. I grew in different ways than I thought I would. I didn't learn as much Spanish as I was hoping but I grew as a person and have a better world outlook.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

SPN 201

Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was pretty easy
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

IB350

Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: It was a lot of reading but interesting.
Credit Transfer Issues: No