The program was grea, but not the school Past Review
By A student (Winona State University) - abroad from 05/29/2017 to 07/01/2017 with
Spain Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
Not sure if it was worthwhile... did terrible here and could've just not gone and I wouldnt have to go thru the stress of what happened with my GPA and major...
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. |
The professors didn't speak any English at all so it was difficult to ask about stuff you don't understand because you don't know how to say it in Spanish and you can't ask in English... one of my classes we were prepared to take a final on the subjuntive we learned but then there was a reading portion that didn't make any sense with the questions we had to answer. There was also two listening portions where she played it at its normal high speed so it was difficult to catch what the audio was saying because Spaniards talk fast and it should've been slowed down a bit for the people who this was their first exposure of it. Afterwards she told us everyone did terrible on the final and the school did nothing to compensate for the fact that the teacher didn't write the exam it was the administration so they don't know what really happens in the classroom.... |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program outside of the university of Granada was amazing!! My educational experience at the university was so great because the professors didn't speak any English at all so it was difficult to ask about stuff you don't understand because you don't know how to say it in Spanish and you can't ask in English... one of my classes we were prepared to take a final on the subjuntive we learned but then there was a reading portion that didn't make any sense with the questions we had to answer. There was also two listening portions where she played it at its normal high speed so it was difficult to catch what the audio was saying because Spaniards talk fast and it should've been slowed down a bit for the people who this was their first exposure of it. Afterwards she told us everyone did terrible on the final and the school did nothing to compensate for the grade we received... they should've curved it because it was a whole class not just couple individuals and the fact that the teacher didn't write the exam it was the administration so they don't know what really happens in the classroom made me angry. So basically I paid thousands of dollars to go to Spain just to have it wreck my GPA and make me choose a different major because I can't apply for my program. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family amazing! |
| * Food: |
My host family did a fantastic job with the food! They didn't like stuff that I didn't like either so that worked out perfect. She always made sure I had a heaping piles of food on my plate and always to made sure to clarify if I like something or not . |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt pretty integrated! My host family liked to take us on walks and to go out for tapas. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I always felt safe in Granada. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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? | It all depends on how many times a week you go and get tapas.... I went a lot |
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 |
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| 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? | Intermediate |
| 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? |
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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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | That the classes were going to be that hard |
