A wonderful 4 months in a historic city. Past Review

By (Whitman College) - abroad from 09/04/2017 to 12/20/2017 with

IES Abroad: Granada - Liberal Arts & Language

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about myself which is really important to me. Most of the learning happened outside of class, when talking to my host mother or reading menus at a random tapa restaurant on Granada's every corner.

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.

Small classes and interesting forms of teaching. The priorities of academics are a lot different in terms of pressure, I felt a lot less pressure from teachers that ‘work is the most important thing’. There was an awareness that learning in the classroom was part of the process but also studying abroad means learning outside of the classroom as well. Usually (except for one of my classes), teachers don't give you busy work, with the expectation that you will learn and keep up understanding of the material. I learned in ways that I wasn't used to. The work load is easy at the beginning until they cram 5 finals in the last 2 weeks, which was wildly overwhelming. A similar thing happened with mid-terms.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff is wonderful, they really care about the students well-being and are easily approachable and willing to make time for you. IES has amazing resources and opportunities to fill your time with meaningful things.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I absolutely loved my host family so the long commute and not the best location made it worth it. My host mom was an amazing cook and my family helped me feel more connected to the city.

* Food:

Ugh! I miss Spanish food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My experience with my host family and few Spanish friends made me feel extremely integrated in my host culture. Building those connections really improved my overall experience and I feel comfortable reaching out to them if I want to come back to Spain. There can easily come Cliques at IES which is frustrating

* 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

I wouldn't trade my experience for the world. Granada is breathtaking, there’s truly nothing like it – small enough to make a community, but big enough to have all of the essentials and keep you entertained. I am so glad I did abroad and so lucky to do it with IES, they help structure the semester so you make the most out of it.

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)

Tapas for dinner cost around 5 euros and breakfast and dinners were at the home stays

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 50 euros, $60
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? The transaction fee added up to a lot, which is why you should have a travelers debit card (or whatever card you can get that doesn't give you international transaction fees). Sometimes I made traveling mistakes and paid more than I thought I would with taxis or other things mid travel. I also had to buy a new phone, which I was not expecting (nor was I happy about).

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

In classes, we were asked to speak in spanish but among friends it was up to your willingness and persistence to keep up 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
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? Make a goal with yourself, especially if you travel on the weekends to speak for a certain amount of time per day. Its up to you how much you speak.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • The Staff!
  • My homestay and ability to connect with locals
  • The resources for students with extra activities and trips like Morocco.
* What could be improved?
  • Starting early for Fall students
  • Placement tests
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Abroad is difficult - socially, emotionally, culturally and pushes you to be vulnerable but what you learn about yourself makes it worth it. Its okay not to travel every other weekend.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Flamenco: History and Performance

Course Department:
Instructor: Maria del Puerto
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: I loved this class, learning about flamenco made me feel more connected to the culture. It was a great opportunity to see performances. Maria is really understanding. Make sure you work hard on your papers because I was surprised by my grades but everything else is generally very easy. Sometimes the pace of the dance classes was painfully slow, but that depends a lot on the skill level of the group. Would recommend for a light hearted and interesting class.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Watercolor Workshop

Course Department:
Instructor: Ana Walta
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This class was one of my favorites. Ana is such a wonderful and interesting person (if you don't take her class, ask her out to coffee or an informational interview, you wont regret it.) I actually learned a lot from the class. The class was very calming and there are no expectations for anyone to be ‘good’. My only frustration with it was that it was too short, I wanted it to be longer.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Islamic Art and Architecture

Course Department:
Instructor: Yolando Guasch
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This course is really interesting and was a good way to get to see the city of Granada. The site visits were super interesting and contributed to my cultural understanding of Spain. The work load was not overwhelming. Would definitely recommend it.
Credit Transfer Issues: