Cordoba: The perfect city for a student. Past Review
By A student (Spanish Language and Literature., Wellesley College) - abroad from 02/01/2012 to 05/24/2012 with
PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain
I learned a lot about Spain, Spanish culture, and myself. It was really great to be immersed in the culture, and I was really able to improve my Spanish. I was able to live in a different country without problems, and now I can't wait to go back in the future!
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 academics weren't as rigorous as they are at my home institution, but I thought that was a good thing. Studying abroad is as much about the experience outside the classroom as inside it, so I think it was really important to have the time to learn about the culture and get to know the city. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The PRESHCO team in Córdoba was wonderful! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my housing experience. I lived with a host family, and I felt that I really got to know everyone well during my stay in Spain. I would definitely recommend living with a host family because it is really an incredible experience, and it is a great way to work on your speaking skills. |
| * Food: |
The food in Spain was delicious, and I loved everything that I tried! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Although I was living with a host family and studying in the Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, I found it difficult to meet Spaniards. It was great to be able to attend all of the special events and festivals in Córdoba, though, because it was fun to be involved in the cultural aspect of the city. |
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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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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 20 euro |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Our classes were all taught in Spanish, which forced us to use the language, and then we also were told to speak in Spanish in the PRESHCO offices. We signed a contract at the beginning saying that we would try to only speak in Spanish, but that was not as successful as they thought it would be. I also only spoke in Spanish to my host family because they didn't speak English, so that was really helpful for improving my Spanish and encouraging because I could see the progress I made. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | 300-level Spanish seminar |
| 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? | While in Spain, use the language as much as possible. Speak to your American friends in Spanish, even if it's difficult, because it will really improve your speaking and comprehension if you are able to use the language in a colloquial setting. Speak to your host family as much as possible; they are a great resource, and they are very willing to help you improve your Spanish. I even kept a travel journal in Spanish, watched tv in Spanish, and tried to listen to Spanish music and change my website settings to Spanish. Immersion is one of the best ways to learn and improve a language. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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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? | There is more to studying in a different country than just the schoolwork, and it is really important to spend the time absorbing the culture and experiencing new things. |
