Studying with AIFS was the best experience in my life! Past Review
By A student (Dominican University) - abroad from 09/01/2011 to 12/17/2011 with
AIFS: Salamanca - University of Salamanca
I gained a better control of the language and I learned a lot about being open and accepting to new and different cultures. I met new people and made life-long friends. I have a family in Salamanca. It was the most worthwhile experience I have ever had.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Great professors!! They are all fun and exciting and really want you to learn. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration is awesome! They are so helpful and friendly. You can go talk to them about anything, even just to chat. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I stayed with a family and that was the best decision I made! My family was so incredibly friendly and loving. They welcomed me in as if I were their own and they were very understanding and helpful with the language barrier. |
| * Food: |
My host mom made the best food! I was able to try traditional Spanish plates that were real, they were not "Americanized." |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Very integrated! I was able to meet and spend time with Spanish friends. This allowed me to integrate into the spanish culture more. We went out for tapas, took paseos, etc. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never had any major health issues, but I know that a few students did. As far as I know, the program directors were very attentive to the medical needs of students. |
| * Safety: |
I, personally, felt very safe when I was in Salamanca, but I was also aware of my surroundings. I never walked home alone, and my host family or a roommate always knew that I was going out. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
Living with a family made it very easy to spend very little per week. We were provided three meals a day, every day throughout the week. So the only times we needed to spend money were times we wanted to go out for tapas or a drink or to go shopping. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $25 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you live with a family, try to eat every meal possible with them. Save your money for trips or for going out with friends. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
They encouraged us to use the language in the office, in the classroom was mandatory (all classes, minus a handful, were in Spanish), and my host family did not speak any English. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 211 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Take classes, use the language as much as you possibly can before you study abroad. When you are abroad, try your best to use the language often. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would have saved more money and brought more money with so that I could have traveled more. |
