Everything that I had to do to get there was worth it. Malaga became my second home. Past Review
By Leah H (Biology, University of North Carolina - Charlotte) for
ISA Study Abroad in Málaga, Spain
I feel that I understand better how different societies work. This trip imprinted into me how much more I want to travel in the future. My experience was amazing.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
We had no idea what our grades would be until the very end. The grading system was not very clear. Also their grading system is on a much broader scale so it is hard to tell what your grade will translate to at your American University. However I thought my grades would transfer to B's and they actually translated as A's at UNC-Charlotte. During the first month we had great teachers but the next month we had many substitutes. The work load was not hard, so I could really enjoy all the experiences of living in Spain. Unless you are perfectly bilingual you study at a school for foreigners. We got to meet people from many different countries, which was great. Also the class room size was small, so it was a very intimate learning environment. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I really enjoyed the program administrators, they were nice and helpful. They offered tutoring if you needed it. They also gave you information about activities you could participate in with the community every week. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was very happy with my housing arrangements. I could walk to the school in the morning which was very convenient. My host family provided what I needed and was very friendly. I was within walking distance from the beach as well. The only down side was that I was a 20 minute bus ride from center city but that was not too bad. |
| * Food: |
take advantage of eating with your host family to save money; also ask them for bocadillos when you go on day trips. They give you lots of fruit which is great. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I enjoyed the trips but wish we had more time at each place we visited. We did visit some beautiful places-especially Ronda- the best arranged trip. There are a lot of day trips you can make on your own as well to explore more cities and places. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt extremely safe in Malaga. I did not have any experience with the health care system. |
| 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 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I spoke with my host family in Spanish every day. This was the best experience for using and learning Spanish. Also I recommend participating in "intercambios" which are language exchanges between people who want to learn English and those that want to learn Spanish. Some people speak English, but don't expect to get by without speaking Spanish.It is great if you can become friends with Spaniards because they can teach you a lot. Looking back, I should have used Spanish more with my peers for added practice. |
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 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? | I highly recommend finding a program that includes meals and home stays because this saves a lot of money and gives you a better cultural experience (like this program). I would buy your own cell phone there because it is pretty cheap and buy an unlimited bus pas if you think you will be using the bus a lot. If you want to save money and the weather is good, you can walk everywhere but it will take you a while. Southern Spain is beautiful so I highly recommend it. I also recommend taking as many trips around the area as you possibly can. Also make as many friends as you can, especially Spaniards because this will make your experience even better. |
