Intensive Spainsh study in Grandad was the best thing I could have ever done, AMAZING experience! Past Review
By Kirsten U (Ethnic Studies - Native Americans, University of Utah) for
ISA Study Abroad in Granada, Spain
YES, I speak amazing Spanish and made lifelong connections and have traveled to AMAZING locations all from my study abroad!
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. |
The workload was pretty light. Professors encouraged travel and a casual classroom environment. I didn't feel like I learned as much from school as I did traveling around Spain and hanging with the Spanish friends I met throughout the trimester. It was the students responsibility to break outside of hanging with other English speak students and actually learn the language. Great and fun professors. |
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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 was able to get into a resedencia and live with actual Spanish students that studied at the Local college. It was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. Living with people my age was also a huge advantage as you have a connection that is normally very tough to make if you are an outsider that does not speak much of their language. My senora was a wonderful woman and she made the experience absolutely amazing. Wonderful life changing experience! |
| * Food: |
Food was very ok, nothing special. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Best thing I could have done for myself. Living in a foreign country where everything is not as easy pushes you to find what you love about yourself and what you want to take from the new culture and bring into your own life. Easily accessible traveling with all the doors wide open! I also made great friends with other Europeans and that opened another door to learn different things about different cultures. I would do it again in a heartbeat |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most people in class spoke English and one had to make an effort and break outside of the comforts of your classmates. No one really spoke English in the city. Spanish was almost always spoken. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The best advice I could give is break out from your comfort zone and do something different. It will show you what the world is really like and will help you decide what you would like to be and how you would like to run your life. |
