Salamanca, Spain in the summer! Past Review
By A student (Accounting, Western Washington University) - abroad from 06/29/2012 to 07/29/2012 with
Centro Fray Luis de Leon: Summer Program in Language and Culture’
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was so incredible to live in a different culture because it is so out of your comfort zone to not be able to always fall back on english and have to use Spanish to communicate. I had a really hard time with the food in Spain. There was ham in every single dish at our dorms and for not eating pork, it was unavoidable. So, I would advise any vegetarian that Spain will be very very difficult.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Very challenging yet extremely rewarding. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
| * 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: |
|
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
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) |
|
| * 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? | 50 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
|
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 302 and 314 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Set up meetings with other students at the university seeking to learn english. It was great to have conversations with both languages intertwined helping each other out! |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew that you needed your own money for food for the weekend excursions. |
Featured Program Providers
