Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Salamanca makes you feel at home! Past Review

By (Trinity University) - abroad from 01/18/2016 to 05/18/2016 with

IES Abroad: Salamanca - Advanced Spanish Immersion

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My language skills developed, I met new friends, and I got to take in a bunch of different cultures! It was a great way to spend four months.

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.

A lot depended on the program's specific course, but most were entertaining while still being challenging. Pacing was tough, however, especially with so many people more focused on travel and enjoying the city.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Everyone was very helpful and on-call all of the time. My only complaint is that they were SO helpful that a few students found it overbearing and with too much "hand-holding". I didn't feel this way, but there was a lot of program staff involvement.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Home stay is a great choice!

* Food:

The Spanish don't like a lot of spices on their food when they cook- everything is the food, plus some olive oil and garlic at most. Restaurants are wonderful and food is very cheap there.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Salamanca is a medium-sized city which means you feel really well-acquainted with the city by the end of your stay, rather than feeling like a visitor.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

n/a for me, but friends generally had their needs taken care of.

* Safety:

Salamanca is relatively very safe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

The program does a fantastic job of giving you a support structure but allowing you to be independent if you want it. The city itself was my favorite in Spain because it offered the history and charm of Spain while also not being so huge that you feel like a tourist all the time.

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)

At a home stay, food was more than enough. I spent a lot of money abroad, but almost all of that was for travel and lodging outside of Salamanca. Salamanca itself is incredibly cheap, though, so disregarding travel I spent very little and still enjoyed myself plenty.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around 20 Euro a week at most; usually less. Traveling probably ran me around 300-400 Euro a week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Find cheap travel options and stay in hostels. It is also much cheaper to buy groceries for snacking than going out for tapas every time you get hungry in between classes. A week of snacks can cost only 3 or 4 Euro if you're smart.

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

They pushed us to use Spanish, and it was required in classes, but during social events or trips they didn't enforce it much. The student mentors the program had were GREAT for practicing 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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish literature courses
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? Don't talk with so many Americans. Talk with your host family or Spanish friends instead.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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 student mentors
  • The city
  • The fellow students in my program
* What could be improved?
  • More encouragement to be independent
  • Less busy orientation period
  • More resources/info about different trips to take in Spain
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Tips for how to travel and sight-see on a budget!

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.