Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best time of my life Past Review

By (Austin College) - abroad from 01/02/2013 to 05/03/2013 with

SSA Education Abroad: Seville - Semester, Year or Summer in Seville

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I can speak spanish a lot better and easier, I made a lot of new friends because I went without knowing anyone. It forced me to make new friends. Also, living with a host family was great because I got to eat the cultural foods and learn about a spanish family from the inside and learn about how they carry on their day.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

A guy in my program was recording a riot and the police saw him doing it. They then began to beat him up in the streets. Our program director said there was nothing she could do. He was in the hospital for 3 days.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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 spent a lot of my own money on my time abroad.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $25-$50

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

We had to speak spanish the entire time we were there, except when speaking to our family and friends in the US.

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? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? spanish 450*
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? Get out in the city you are in and speak it to everyone that is willing to talk to you and help you learn.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Made us live with a host family
  • Made us speak spanish
  • They took us on 2 trips.
* What could be improved?
  • If we could screen our roommates. Mine hated being abroad and it was a downer until she moved out.
  • Orientation should be in english. It was very intimidating to have orientation in spanish. Especially when my spanish and other people's spanish were not good enough to understand everything that was being said.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Nothing.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.