Granada: The Experience of a Lifetime! Past Review
By Dinah K (Spanish Language Teacher Education., Illinois State University) for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Granada, Spain
So much fun, great experiences, totally worth while.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was easy and not very much. The grading system was easy and the teaching methods depended on the teacher. The educational system at Illinois state University is more challenging than it was abroad. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Great services and easy access to them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived about a half hour walk from class, which was kind of annoying sometimes. It was located in an okay place though cause I was able to walk all over. |
| * Food: |
It was really good food, but it was a lot of the same things over and over. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I had a lot of fun travelling, going out with friends and experience the European life. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Overall, I felt safe in Granada and with the program. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | On average I spent like 30 euros a week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep track of what you're spending money on and don't buy things you don't need, etc! Save the money for travels! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | LAN 233.15 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced with other students and teachers. I used Spanish in every day interactions, although people still spoke a lot of English. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Go in with open eyes, open minds, and open hearts. |
