Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I went to Granada to see the Al-Hambra, and I did. Thrice. Past Review

By (Anthropology., The University of Texas at Austin) for

AIFS: Granada - University of Granada and Internship Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I felt so lost. Spaniards are vain, blunt, and rude. I had the hardest time connecting with Spaniards, and I don't think I'll go back to Spain.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I did not feel welcome to ask questions about what they were charging us or to question anything. At one point, the program director brought me and another student into her office to tell us that in all of her years of handling this program, she had never had students cause her so much trouble (about asking questions concerning housing and financial circumstances). At times, she was defensive and unprofessional with us.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host senora was bitter, vain, and very gossipy. She was mean and made living with her uncomfortable.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We had an amazing optional (they charged extra) trip to Morocco at the end of the semester.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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? The program itself kept asking for money, which was unexpected. The financial incentive to stay a year was taken away in Nov., so I had to make a decision to come home a semester early.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? one semester--SPN 508K at UT.
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

I spoke with the family I stayed with and shop keepers, teachers too, of course... I found it difficult to not use it, but also difficult to use with students my own age.

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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Don't do AIFS Granada, please.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Historia del arte en España (en inglés)
Course Department:
Instructor: ESTÉVEZ FUNES, MARÍA
Instruction Language: English
Comments: loved this professor
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Nociones de gramática española
Course Department:
Instructor: FUENTES PORTILLO, Mª DOLORES
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Cultura islámica en España (en inglés)
Course Department:
Instructor: MACÍAS AMORETTI, JUAN ANTONIO
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Civilización y cultura españolas
Course Department:
Instructor: LÓPEZ GARCÍA, PILAR
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: less insightful than expected
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Producción oral y escrita
Course Department:
Instructor: ÁLVAREZ BAZ, ANTXÓN
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: