Amazing Past Review

By (Spanish Language, Literature, Loras College) - abroad from 01/27/2015 to 05/13/2015 with

Loras College: Cuernavaca - Intensive Spanish

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned many things, including being able to look at the world through a different point of view.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The on-site administration did a fantastic job of organizing events and keeping us informed.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was very satisfied with my housing and host family.

* Food:

Amazing.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The healthcare in Spain was easily accessible and made very easy to access with the insurance provided through the university.

* Safety:

Santiago de Compostela and the surrounding region was extraordinarily safe. I experienced no safety related experiences and had no moments when I did not feel safe.

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

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I was able to spend very little. In the range of 20 - 30 dollars per week.

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

All of the staff was adamant about speaking Spanish, but would answer questions in English if we were having trouble understanding and had asked them to.

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 - 270
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? Do your best to limit interaction with the English language.

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

  • Americans
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?
  • Spanish Integration
  • Helpful Staff
  • Experiential Learnin
* What could be improved?
  • Nothing comes to mind.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I believe we were adequately prepared for what to expect.

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.