Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Life Changing Experience that Prepared Me to Face the Future Past Review

By (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/15/2012 to 05/11/2012 with

IES Abroad: Madrid - IES Abroad in Madrid

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The trip was one of if not the most important experience of my life. Beyond seeing new places, making new friends, and speaking a new language, I gained a new self-awareness during my time abroad. By constantly pushing and testing myself in what I could do, I feel like I have returned an adult with the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual strength to face any problem that I will face in life.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes are not particularly difficult. The program is designed for students who may read or write Spanish but have difficulty speaking the language. The classes, rather than being as rigorous as the classes at your home university, are meant to foster speaking and cultural knowledge. So, the classes are straightforward and lack much homework but tend to require participation and verbal interaction in Spanish. The professors are all accustomed to teaching American students, so they usually try to make the classroom a comfortable setting for students nervous speaking in another language.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administrative staff of IES Madrid could not have been nicer or more accommodating. Angel, Maria Jose, Yolanda, and Elvira are all friendly, understanding, and genuinely care that you have a life-changing experience while studying abroad. Consequently, they themselves add tremendously to the trip.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

The cafeteria in the main San Agustin building is the worst. Go to the one in the Guadalupe building.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* 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

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)

* 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
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
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? SPN 327G
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? Actually force yourself to speak with your friends in the host language. It's cumbersome and will seem lame, but if you actually do it, it's shocking how rapidly you will improve.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • 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 Grammar Professor, Ana Martin, was probably the sweetest person I've ever met.
  • My Homestay Family
* What could be improved?
  • The absence policy is too strict. Two absences over a semester definitly limits the ability to travel to other places.
  • Grammar class begins too early in the morning.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How unprepared I was to speak Spanish before leaving for Spain. My home university classes never forced us to speak Spanish enough. So when I got to Madrid, I could read and write the language more or less but was unable to follow the spoken language. During the first taxi ride from the orientation hotel to my host family's apartment, all I could say was "Si" and "No.