Absolutely Worth It September 02, 2022
By A student (Marketing, Mount Pleasant) - abroad from 07/01/2022 to 07/31/2022 with
The Experiment: Spain: Spanish Language & Culture
Absolutely Worth while. Aside from language skills, I grew as a person, I received amazing role models, and a new and improved mindset, mentality, and goal sets.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
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? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I absolutely loved this trip, I made amazing friends and role models, I grew so much and learned so much about myself in such a short amount of time. I have changed for the better and I am grateful that I received such an amazing opportunity |
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) |
Compared to the states food, stores, and activities were relatively cheap |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | less than $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Many 'tourist' stores sell the same post cards, magnets, and basic souvenirs, all for different prices, check around before immediately buying common items |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | High school Spanish 4 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | In country talk to people, most will be happy you are trying, before leaving? listen to podcasts , music, use apps, read, write, and most importantly speak, listen, and repeat. You might understand what people are saying but its challenging to speak back to them properly |
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? |
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 wish I would have packed lighter (though the packing list did tell me how to pack and I didnt listen), I wish I would have doubled down on my spanish classes so i could have been better prepaired. I wish I would have known how much id miss the program and people when it ended. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
