The semester of a life time Past Review
By Alexander G (Trinity University) - abroad from 09/02/2016 to 12/18/2016 with
IES Abroad: Barcelona - Study Abroad with IES Abroad
Incredibly so, international exposure, enhanced social understanding, cultural adaptation techniques, and significant improvements in my ability to speak and understand Castellano.
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. |
IES Barcelona has a fantastic staff and faculty dedicated to enhancing the lives of their students by means of a diverse curriculum exposure. This exposure allows the students to not only immerse themselves in this environment but to also become a high functioning member in the academic community. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The only knock is is that is hard to form a real friendship with the locals. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
My program linked me to professionals and helped me immediately with any concern I had. With this said I was miss-diagnosed by a local doctor twice in a rather sensitive matter that was only cleared up once I returned to the US. This experience was rather upsetting. |
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| 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? | Not including trips, around 120 a week. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| 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? | Intermediate 2 |
| 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? | Meet local friends or Spanish speaking friends. |
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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| 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? | Go way out of your comfort zone to meet locals and ditch the Americans |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
