Study abroad in Spain: Poco a Poco Past Review
By judee u (Architecture., Wellesley College) for
PRESHCO: Study Abroad in Córdoba, Spain
My spanish improved drastically and my classes helped me to understand the importance of the european union in a global context and think about it on a scale similar to the political goals and challenges of the USA.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | University of Cordoba, Escuela de Matteo Inurria |
| 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. |
My companero de conversacion partner was fundamental to my understand and development of the spanish language. |
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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 got along with my host family fine. I felt uncomfortable with the other american student that was living with us however. We both had a different level of Spanish experience and instruction and I sometimes felt hindered by her ability to respond faster and answer the majority of the questions our host family asked us. It was to be expected, since she came to Spain with 6 years of Spanish instruction and I, one. But I do not think that she was particularly helpful to my development in the Spanish language. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The tour of spain really helped to put spain in perspective for me. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt like the program took great care to explain to us how to be safe and to look after us on all trips. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 35 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I was not used to eating times in spain so I would go and buy snacks to stay full which put a hole in my pocket. Also, I spent more money than anticipated on coffee and pastries while out socializing with people. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 241 |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I found a buddy from cordoba to practie spanish speaking skills with whom I spoke to almost every day. Spanish was spoken every day with my host family and professors and spanish friends, who did not speak english. |
| 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?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | some advice that my spanish gave me almost every day was, "poco a poco." He reminded me how crucial it is to stop and slow down to cleary express your thoughts in a foreign language so that people can hear what you really want to say. |
