Living the Vida Espana! Past Review
By Rachel E (nursing, Shorter College) for
SSA Education Abroad: Alicante - Semester, Year or Summer in Alicante
Immersion is the key to becoming bilingual
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad de Alicante |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I was definitely pushed academically and learned more in the two 4 weeks courses than I have learned in an entire semester in the states. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I could not have imagined a better program. It was very well put together, organized, and the directors were extremely available for any concerns or problems we faced. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
They did not speak english, thus I was forced to pick up the language quickly. They provided EVERYTHING for us including each meal, clean laundry, and our own bedrooms. They became my "parents" almost immediately due to their extreme kindness and interest in our lives. |
| * Food: |
Do not be afraid to try things! The food is different but full of flavor and very tasty. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Las Hogueras is Alicante's biggest "holiday/festival" and lasts an entire week. Nothing but fireworks, food, dancing, and enormous statues over the entire city. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I did not have any safety concerns. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Immersion is essential! I was forced to only speak spanish with my host family and professors thus my language skills improved rapidly. |
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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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? | Let go of any pre-conceived notions and embrace the culture with open arms. You never know what you will discover and how it will change you life forever. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
spa 2010 |
| Course Department: | n/a |
| Instructor: | n/a |
| Instruction Language: | spanish |
| Comments: | challenging but extremely helpful in understanding the language |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no |
