IES Abroad Salamanca Past Review
By A student (Pomona College) - abroad from 01/26/2017 to 05/12/2017 with
IES Abroad: Salamanca - Advanced Spanish Immersion
Better language ability, increased self confidence, and a better understanding of where music fits into my life.
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. |
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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: |
It's Spain, is this a joke? |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
N/A |
| * Safety: |
Keep your guard up for thieves. I never so much as heard of a violent incident during my entire time in Salamanca. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved the size of the city, the fact that most Salamantinos barely speak English, the lively student-driven culture, the chance to take classes at a Spanish university, and the ability to travel all over Europe via Madrid. |
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? | $20 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you want to save money, don't travel too much outside Salamanca. If you stay in Salamanca, you will hardly spend any money at all. |
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? | 4th semester college level |
| 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? | Erasmus (european exchange students) are great, but they always want to speak English! Don't spend too much time with them if you want to speak lots of Spanish. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Spanish people party super hard. I don't. This made things a bit difficult sometimes. That being said, I'm glad I was able to experience new things, and it's also possible to make Spanish friends without being a party animal! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
