linguistic and cultural immersion encourages independence and language fluency Past Review
By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/04/2017 to 06/15/2018 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Cordoba, Spain
I gained the ability to converse normally with native Spanish speakers, something I hadn't really been able to do before. I also learned a bit of "adulting" living on my own and basically fending for myself.
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 |
Teresa and Patricia were very nice and helpful during orientation and visits but interaction was pretty limited throughout the semester. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The first semester living arrangements weren't ideal but was able to move to a much better situation for the second semester. |
| * Food: |
There was no daily program food provided - we cooked for ourselves, but the food during administrative visits was always great. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Because the program is much more hands off and the area in which it is located is more isolated and less international than the bigger cities, we were able to better integrate with the locals. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any experience with the local health care but friends who did didn't seem to have too much trouble figuring it out. The system for paying with the insurance was slightly more complicated than what I'm used to. |
| * Safety: |
Never felt unsafe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
While there were definitely times when I wished I was somewhere else, ultimately I'm glad I was in Córdoba because it afforded me the ability to drastically improve my speaking and comprehension skills in Spanish, something I think would've been less improved in a different program. |
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) |
I probably spent around $500 a month on food and personal expenses, although in a bind could have probably spent less. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | between $100 and $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make sure to find the cheaper markets. Some markets are aimed more at tourists or wealthier locals and will charge more for the same products. Buy fruit from fruit stands. It's much cheaper. |
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 |
There was mostly just encouragement at the orientation and during visits although the Middlebury programs are a bit different because they include a language pledge that are technically constant encouragement to speak the language. |
| 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? | 300 level |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | watching tv series in the language helps, especially if you can find one with accents similar to your host country's |
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? | The best way to go about the visa process Córdoba doesn't actually have its own airport despite what google says |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Patrimonio Musical Andaluz de Tradición Oral: Folclore y Flamenco |
| Course Department: | Historia del Arte |
| Instructor: | Luis Moreno Moreno |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Teacher was very knowledgeable and passionate. Class wasn't overly difficult but still engaging and informative. Professor's accent isn't too hard to understand in comparison with others. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | still unknown but have preliminary credit transfer permission |
