Program Reviews

I enjoyed every second of this trip - the food, the culture, the people, and the environment was the best. The beaches in Costa Rica were super pretty. We got to visit Universidad Latina in San Jose and we seen how beautiful the campus was. The people who worked for the program who organizing our day to day schedules were very nice. Everything was organized and there was a special dinner the last day with all our host families. It was a very special moment because we got to serve them just like they were doing to us.

Overall, a wonderful experience... Great experience with the staff and the host family I stayed with. The activities were all fun and interesting, and I loved the city of Granada. In my opinion it is the perfect size, it's affordable, there are great people, and it has both the beach and mountains close. It is also filled with college students which makes a lot easier to meet other students.

Granada is also a tremendous to learn spanish. The people are patient and happy to help you learn. The accent is slightly difficult at first, but you can quickly get used to it. The combination of staying with a host family, taking spanish courses, and speaking spanish in my everyday life for 4 months was really able to take my spanish to the next level.

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip, as it provided me with the opportunity to connect with a diverse group of people and partake in enriching experiences. Among the highlights were the engaging survival Spanish class and the delightful cooking class, both of which added a considerable amount of fun to my journey. Overall, it was a memorable adventure filled with exciting encounters and cultural immersion. Both of these experiences were extremely fun. I would recommend this program to any student who is intreated in traveling. This is a good first country to travel to.

This program was an amazing opportunity to experience life in another country. Everyone involved was supportive, kind, and helpful throughout the process. It was a great program to learn Spanish by talking with my fellow travelers, host family, and in my classes. Don't be scared of trying, people were very supportive of every stage of language learning. I learned so much from the activities, excursions, and classes, as well as from living life with a host family and from new local friends. If you are unsure about this program, don't be! You will not regret it!

Academics:

My Experience at La Universidad de Belgrano is without a doubt the reason why I am fluent in Spanish today. The professors are experienced, kind and super easy to talk to. The curriculum is both engaging and comprehensive, as well as unique in that it has a focus on Argentine culture.

Support:

I never felt lost at La Universidad de Belgrano, or with Arcos. Our professors, university faculty and program directors were always open to speak with and give a helping hand whenever it was needed.

Fun:

Buenos Aires is unparalleled in my opinion when it comes to stuff to do. Whether you enjoy nightlife, museums, nature walks, fine dining, street food, comedy shows, ballets, plays, concerts or tango lessons - it truly does offer it all.

Housing:

During my study abroad I stayed with a host mother - Muchy, who I am still in contact with to this day! Staying with a host mother was a great way to get more history and perspective on the city and country - I am super glad I did it.

Safety:

Safety is like in any other big city, as long as you keep your wits about you, you will be fine. I personally never felt unsafe or had any unsavory run-ins of any kind. I did get my bike stolen, but that is because I left it outside without a lock!

My experience in Argentina was one I will never forget. Being able to immerse myself in the language and the culture was amazing. I do wish the sheet that was given to us was actually fulfilled and we did all the things you guy saiid we were going to do. I also wish there was more of a backup check on the people that do housing because I feel like the ARCOS staff really don't know each other the way they should know one another. Raul and Patricia were amazing and truly made it an experience that is unforgettable.

The month I spent in Oaxaca was so spectacular in so many ways. Not only was they city and culture beautiful, but I learned so much during my month there. My host mom was amazing and treated me as if I was her own daughter. I made so many new friends from all over the country and tried so many different types of food. The school/classes were great and my professors were some of the nicest and best people I've met. I remain this amazing connection with my host mom and friends I've met. I loved Oaxaca and would do it all over again!

I had a wonderful time on my 5-week program in Granada, Spain this summer! The Arcos team was wonderful to work with as I prepared to leave for my trip, and the experience itself went as well as it could have gone. I had the BEST host mom and roommate, great program directors, I really enjoyed my classes, and the activities we were able to do were so much fun. In addition to my time in Granada, I took a weekend trip to Córdoba and Sevilla and another trip to Paris. During my time in Spain, I feel like my Spanish improved significantly, and I had so much fun learning. I highly recommend a program with Arcos!

During this program the students have the opportunity to learn and practice Spanish all the time: in class, with the host family, during the cultural activities and during the excursions.
The Spanish classes take place from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Monday to Friday in a comfortable classroom. During the afternoon, Saturdays and Sundays the students attend cultural activities and excursions to learn the history associated with the language they are learning. I recommend this program to all the students that want to learn Spanish during the summer.

This was my first time traveling outside the country and I was very nervous about the homestay, but my family was the nicest ever. She welcomed me and my roommate with open arms. She also made great cooked meals for us. Our director Cata was the best director ever and made our group feel like family. She made sure we had everything we need and made sure our excursions were very well organized. I made so many memories and new friends on campus. I will forever remember this trip and cherish it forever.