A life changing growth experience Past Review
By Rebecca O (Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies., Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/01/2013 to 05/23/2014 with
IES Abroad: Granada - Study Abroad with IES Abroad
It was absolutely worthwhile. I improved my spanish fluency, gained a new perspective on the US and international relations, learned about myself
Review Photos
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. |
Resources were fantastic. The academics were not rigorous to say the least, but very interesting and helpful professors and great class topics. |
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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? |
I liked my host mom arrangement first semester, but it took me a while to adjust. She was very nice, but it was more of a distant relationship than being part of the family. Second semester I lived in an apartment with friends and that was amazing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Felt very integrated but could have been more if I didn't hang out as much with my few good american friends. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Went to the doctor once and had to get reimbursed, but the process was very easy. |
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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? | 50 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep track of what you are spending every day for at least a month or so, to get an idea of how much you're spending and on what. |
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? | 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? | Highest level literature classes |
| 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? | Always speak the language, all the time, as much as you can, even if you don't know a word or feel embarrassed- you'll get over that. |
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? | Not to go in with ANY expectations |
