Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Summer in Salamanca, Spain Past Review

By (Linguistics, Spanish, Western Washington University) - abroad from 06/28/2013 to 08/29/2013 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 improved my speaking ability in the language considerably. It made more comfortable with speaking it in all sorts of different situations. Before I felt too self-conscious of my level in Spanish, but now I am comfortable speaking it even though I know it is not perfect.

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.

* 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)

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 203
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? If possible try to do language exchanges and have one or more conversation partners. It greatly improves your ability in the language in a non-academic setting, and it helps them out with their English too.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
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?
  • Encouragement and Support to try new things, and use the language as much as possible
  • Time to travel (as well as the freedom to )
  • Meeting people from around the world and being able to communicate with them in a common language
* What could be improved?
  • More time to look at the monuments on our excursions during the tours
  • the travel agency that we went through
  • Some of the classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I would enjoy having conversation partners with native speakers so much, and that it would help me improve as much as it did

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!