Once in a lifetime experience Past Review
By A student (Peace And Justice Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/16/2012 to 05/11/2012 with
CIEE: Seville - Liberal Arts
It was absolutely worthwhile! I made great friends and studied in a completely foreign culture.
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. |
All of the classes were in Spanish, so there was definitely a level of challenge when it came to the classes. Some classes were more challenging than others. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
For the most part they were extremely helpful with any problems or concerns. Sometimes I felt they grew a little impatient or became insensitive to the feelings of the students. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My particular housing situation was fine, the family did exactly what they were required to do but they didn't embrace me as a part of their family like I would have hoped. They didn't go beyond their duties like many other families did. |
| * Food: |
The food was fine, but in my family the father nor the mother could cook so food got very repetitive and not so good. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I stood out a lot as an American even just based on my clothing so it was challenging to a certain extent to fit in. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had to go to the foot doctor once and the program was very helpful in making an appointment for me. |
| * Safety: |
They always asked where we were going if we were leaving the area, but I never felt unsafe. |
| 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) |
Food and personal expenses weren't a problem, it was more so the traveling that I wanted to do that caused monetary problems. |
| * 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? | $75 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't spend for the sake of spending just because you're in Europe or abroad. |
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? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Oral and Written Communication 241 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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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? | I wish I had known the difficulty I would face in trying to increase my use of Spanish being surrounded by mostly Americans in my program. |
