Expectations and Reality Past Review
By A student (Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 06/23/2018 to 08/17/2018 with
Study Abroad Programs in Argentina
I gained some adaptability in my Spanish, since certain vocabulary in Buenos Aires is different than in other countries.
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 course I took was challenging, once I finally got to my appropriate level. The program placed me at the wrong level at the onset of the program (below my actual skill level) so I spent several weeks reviewing basics that I didn't need to be reviewing. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program directors are all very helpful and kind, I was always able to get answers I needed. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
The food I received was enough to keep me full, but Argentine food just isn't my preference. (It's a bit bland.) |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I'm not a very adventurous person when it comes to interacting with strangers. (Perhaps the program could find more ways to push students to interact with locals?) |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
[Not applicable--I had no healthcare needs while abroad] |
| * Safety: |
The program directors kept us in safe areas and told us where not to go on our own. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
SOL is among the more affordable options and offered me the location I wanted to go to. |
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) |
How easily you can live on a student's budget depends on where you go for lunch. I was able to find some cheap places, but I certainly worried a bit for my health considering I was eating empanadas nearly every day. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $20-$30 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Nightclubs are overrated, you really don't need to be spending your money there. Go once or twice for the experience, or to loosen up with friends, but leave it at that. |
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 |
The teachers tried to keep us speaking Spanish most of the time. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | Advanced |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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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| 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? | I didn't improve my Spanish so much as I had expected I would. I thought that study abroad experiences were all about improving in language, but the rest of the experience is important, too. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
