Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I learned a ton, inside and outside of the classroom. We have two classes for non-native speaker students, one of which is a mandatory grammar class, and the other an elective class. I'm not sure how effective the grammar class was, but it was definitely difficult in comparison to the classes I took at my university. The workload was very reasonable. You also learn a lot outside of class through your host family, and adhering to the NO ENGLISH rule with other students throughout the program. The NO ENGLISH contract was one of the reasons I picked this program, because when you switch from one language to another, it takes time for your mind to switch back again. With five weeks of pure Spanish you'll definitely see improvement, though don't expect fluency. By the end of it, I thought I didn't make much progress, but when I came back to class at my university, my Spanish was just flowing with ease, and I didn't realize how much I had actually improved.

On-site administration of your program

The administration was absolutely amazing. I was able to establish a rapport with all of them. Bonnie, the director's wife, is actually American. Don't worry about them not understanding you, since they all know English as well. But the administrators were definitely one of the highlights of the trip, because they were so nice, kind, and wholeheartedly enthusiastic about making sure everyone has a wonderful experience.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I should have spoken more to my host family; they were absolutely wonderful. I loved my room; I had a balcony with a wonderful view of the city. All the homes chosen were relatively close to one another, with the university being the central location, so things were accessible. It's also easy to get to the downtown area and explore the city. Definitely another highlight in my experience.

I didn't like the food too much, as things were a bit too heavy and not seasoned according to my tastes. But that may be just me, and they definitely make an effort to expose students to a variety of different types of foods.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I love the fact that we have expeditions every weekend to different places, like Copas de Europa, Las Cuevas, rafting, etc...Every weekend was filled with fun, and we also get a free weekend to do whatever we want. Some students elected to go to see the annual bull run, while others went to a beach in Gijon. Up to you. There is lots of free time to do what you want to do on a daily basis as well. The first week is orientation, in which you'll get to visit many places from the south of Spain to the north. It was an absolute blast.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

No vaccines were needed. I didn't use any of the health care services, but judging on how organized the program is run, there should be no worries.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Make sure you adhere to the NO ENGLISH rule!! Even when you're going out with friends. Don't falter under peer pressure! You'll find that you'll improve so much more. Also, don't be afraid to converse with your host family. I felt my Spanish was limited, so I made the mistake of not wanting to sound stupid, and limiting my speech. Horrible horrible idea. Speak as much as you can, and pay attention to the way people use Spanish. Pick up on their common phrases, and use them!

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• Host Family

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• Host Family