UConn in Granda - amazing, but could be better Past Review
By Catherine H (Biological Sciences/English, University of Connecticut) - abroad from 01/17/2015 to 05/17/2015 with
UConn: Granada - UConn in Granada, Spain
I had a great time in Granada because I made it that way - I went out, learned Spanish, and fell in love with the city and the people. But the program itself is sorely lacking in support, organization, and resources - UConn needs to change things.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
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 |
Very poor. Having a director who is that unorganized was unacceptable; director should have mandated international experience supervising others. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was satisfied with my family - but many others were not. UConn needs to take another look at the housing situation in Granada!!!!!! You cannot advertise the homestay if there are inherent problems with it: ie: the director of housing being friends with many of the women hosting and therefore providing them with students even if they are unqualified to host!!! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
UConn needs to change this program, absolutely. Find a way to integrate the program into the University of Granada itself or at the very least, with other US students - the program is so isolating, and it's very difficult, impossible, really, to meet new people through the program the way it's structured, especially Spanish people. |
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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? |
No
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Not sure |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | No |
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 |
Program needs work. |
| 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? | AP Spanish |
| 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? | Use conversationexchange.com |
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? | How learning a language needs effort - you're not going to learn it just from sitting in Spain for four months. |
