Fun speaking the language in real life. Past Review
By A student (Geosciences, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/16/2012 to 06/15/2012 with
CIEE: Barcelona - Advanced Liberal Arts
Language, communication skills and how to be independent.
Personal Information
| 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. |
There is a wide range of courses to take in CIEE center and University of Barcelona. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Staff were very helpful and friendly. They were very understanding and sensitive to students' concern. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Great host families. They were all very interested in meeting exchange students. |
| * Food: |
Awesome food in Barcelona! Host family's cooking is great. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
People/Students in Barcelona have a very special Catalonia identity. They speak Catalan, making integration not as easy as expected. However, as time goes by, it will get better because Spanish and Catalan are similar. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Host families and program staff would help you/direct you to seek medical assistance. |
| * Safety: |
Pretty safe, except for robbery. Just need to keep an eye out. Students learn to be very alert. |
| 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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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
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? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | SPAN 256 |
| 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? | Just keep talking to different people. |
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? | The rigorousness of the program in another language. |
