Go abroad Past Review
By Sophia Jones (Wartburg College) - abroad from 02/02/2017 to 05/13/2017 with
SSA Education Abroad: Seville - Semester, Year or Summer in Seville
I learned so much about myself and have grown as a person, I got to experience a new culture and learn the language, it was 100% worth it and i was so sad to leave
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. |
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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 lived with a host family and they were incredible |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I lived with a spanish family and all my classes were in spanish, I also had an intercambio and my friends and I would hangout a lot with locals |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
If anything was wrong I just told the center and they took me to the doctor down the block and I was in within 10 minutes to get checked out |
| * Safety: |
My city was very safe, even at night alone I never felt unsafe |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I loved my program and wouldn't change a thing but we had classes on fridays sometimes and I had really early classes so if I went again I would choose a more flexible program so that I could travel more |
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) |
I traveled around a lot and would get tapas and drinks with friends a lot so it is just the culture, if a person doesn't go out much it is very affordable but while traveling to other countries and going out to eat and shopping it can add up |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | while traveling $150 a week in Seville $50 or less a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | don't go shopping right away, be careful with money at first |
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 |
my program had a spanish only policy while at the school |
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300 level course at my university |
| 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? | talk with everyone, try to talk to your friends in the language you are learning |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | explore as much as possible even if you go alone |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
