IES Abroad: Barcelona - IES Abroad Barcelona Center Photo

Visca Barca! Visca Cataluna!

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:

Kimberly F. (Management, The University of Texas at Austin) on July 14, 2011

Overall Rating

Personal Information

* Start Date: 2011-01-10
* End Date: 2011-05-05
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

It was interesting being taught with their teaching and grading system. Not better or worse-- just different. I also was opened up to a different perspective on life in the classroom.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were there if you needed them- but you had to seek them out.

* Housing:

WE LIVED WITH A FIFTH (SPANISH) ROOMMATE, AN R.A., THAT THE PROGRAM FAILED TO TELL US ABOUT!

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

PICK POCKETERS ARE REAL! Do not leave your things unattended or else I PROMISE they will get taken!

* 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? Should not have to pay more to live in an apartment-- we have to buy our own food!!

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? None
Language acquisition improvement?

Locals. Yes. Yes.

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

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

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? don't do IES! Friday Classes!
* What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? YES