I learned to understand myself through understanding Argentine culture Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 07/18/2018 to 07/13/2019 with
IFSA: Buenos Aires - Argentine Universities Program
Through such an integral immersion into Argentine culture, i also learned about my
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. |
The program provides great flexibility-- given that you can choose to enrol in various universities, you can be as rigorous as you like! And the academic advisors are also as present as you request |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
And if the host mom isn't a good fit, they're really supportive about switching homes |
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
GREAT system! Argentine hospitals have great attention, and the insurance claims process was super easy |
| * Safety: |
|
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Absolutely, because I got to make the experience my own... It was perfect for a whole year abroad because first semester I lived with a host family and enrolled in more rigorous classes, while second semester I lived alone and focused on other aspects of my life there |
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) |
|
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 |
Again, it's up to students' comfort levels. I primarily socialized with Argentine students and friends from my extracurriculars. |
| 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? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 200 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? | Insert yourself in spanish-speaking contexts outside of school! The more contexts in which you use the language (at dance classes, ceramics, and chatting with baristas at your favourite coffee shop for example), the wider your vocabulary. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | nothing, i felt well prepared |
