128 reviews
3.92 / 5 based on 128 reviews
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dianeh
Languages
Language of instruction: Spanish
Was learning Spanish a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my Spanish
How much did you improve your Spanish?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
I spent the first month listening and saying very little.I was getting to grips with understanding first of all and I was shy at speaking Spanish. I amazed myself how quickly I became fluent. I put it down ot having avery active social life and making good friends among the locals. I spent more time with the locals than other erasmus students aprt from one girl who came from my university. It was nice to have someone if the frustration of not being able to fully express myself in Spanish got to me. We joked about it and it helped me to get on with it. Socialising, parties: that was the best studying I did!
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dianeh
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience
Personal spending habits
It is extremely cheap to live in Las Palmas ( compared to Ireland)
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Overall, Travel, Housing, Nightlife, Food, Telephone:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Buy in Las Palmas, Tourist resorts in South seemingly cheap, but much cheaper in the North of Island. Local supermarkets ( 'Hyperdino') are much cheaper than larger commericial shopping departments such as Corte Ingles ( however good quality).
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dianeh
Overall
I wish I had known...
advice on modules.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
It can be intimidating, whn you don't speak the local language very well to try and get to met new people. Brave it! I found the locals welcoming and patient when I got to know them. Offering a language exchange ( looking at what skilss Ihad to offer/ bargain with) is an excellent way to get to know the locals. At first it may be seem closer to business arrangement; an hour English, an hour Spanish, but soon you will be finding out what you have in common. You will be introduced to their friends... and you will be interacting and meeting new people as you would at home. you almost forget your doing it all through a foreign language.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Hope my personal experience has helped your survey.
Are you going to help me find a job now??!!
No seriously,
Save as much money as you can before going. While abroad, take the opportunity to do a little bit of travelling.
I would recommend getting involved in the Uni magazine, social projects around the Uni arranged by the students.
More opportunities of engaging in the langugae and culture will make you feel like it is your secon home.
Find out the cost of living, cost of living before you go. I didn't do much research in that respect. Yet I really landed on my feet. It was a pleasant surprise to find out how cheap it was.(Choose Las Palmas: Living on a small island and the opportinuty of travelling to neighbouring islands appealed to me.)
What you bring over you will have to bring back. Allow for the fact that you tend to accumulate things over the course of your stay.
Go over with the intention of having the most fun you can. remeber whatever happens, it such an experience. What seem to be bad experiences will be remebered as part of the adventure. Don't get bogged down with mundane everyday life. Be aware of the time frame and make the most of it!
Again as I mentioned before, having a thriving social life and living as a local made it for me.
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dianeh
Academic
Course recommendations
As well as the mdules you are obliged to do to get enough credits, try a module that is completely unrelated to your course that interests you. I did pschology and it has opened a new chapter in my life. It also helped me immensely in learning Spanish (terminology proved similar to English)
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
It would have been nice ot have had a counsellor to apporach to offer some advice in my choice of courses. I picked my courses that seemed to relate to my degree at home and that gave me a sufficient number of credits. Some classes I tried (like classical mythology 3rd year) to find it was way over my head. However I did enjoy the freedom of choosing a course and trying it out. I think I would have settled more quickly had I had some advice.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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dianeh
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - My choice
If returning, I would choose: With a family
Why?
I have friends that live there. Long term I would rent an apartment.
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Personal comments
Although I had to find my own accommodation, there are advertisements/signs all over the Uni campus. it was very easy to find an apartment to share with other students.
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dianeh
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Travel, Activities: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
El guincho (bar for stds. mainly)
Asadero in San Matteo organised by Uni.students.
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