Great city, mediocre program Past Review
By A student (Child Development., Tufts University) - abroad from 09/04/2011 to 12/16/2011 with
Arcadia: Barcelona- Arcadia in Barcelona
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Absolutely worthwhile, though I had a better experience when I directly enrolled in the University of Barcelona, rather than participating in an American program. Would highly recommend Barcelona to students of all Spanish levels, especially those with an affinity for languages who will pick up some Catalan!
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | University of Barcelona |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I tried to integrate myself but in doing isolated myself from others in the program. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Barcelona can be expensive. |
| * 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? | 200 Euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save up as much as you can before leaving so that you can travel and enjoy Barcelona! |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 21 (5 semester equivelant) |
| 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? | Try to resist hanging out with your American classmates and look for ways to meet locals (language exchanges are huge in Barcelona). |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Catalan is the dominant written and instructed language in Barcelona - it is NOT a dialect of Spanish, despite what many people say. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
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