IES Abroad Buenos Aires Summer – Language & Argentine Studies

Name: IES Abroad Buenos Aires Summer – Language & Argentine Studies
Brand: IES Abroad
SKU: 43968
Rating: 9.67 (3 reviews)

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Study abroad in Buenos Aires with IES Abroad!

A student enjoying an Argentina futbol game

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About

This program is designed primarily for students with a beginning or intermediate level of Spanish proficiency and it offers classes in English that explore contemporary Latin American society from a social science or business perspective.

The program also offers a Direct Enrollment option with the Universidad de Buenos Aires Facultad de Agronomía. These English-taught courses are not limited to the science of agronomy; some focus on economics, finance, ecology, and management, all with a focus on agronomy. This is a great way to experience the Argentinian education system first-hand—maybe you'll even make some Argentinian friends while you're at it.

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As far as we're concerned, financial limitations shouldn't prevent you from studying abroad with us. That's why we offer more than $5 million in scholarships and aid.

Value

$500 - $5,000

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9.67 Rating

based on 3 reviews

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Academics 8
Support 9.3
Fun 9.7
Housing 9.7
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Picture this: a math nerd desperately trying to learn Spanish who hates cities and is well known for spending her time watching Netflix or re-reading books she's read three times already. Now picture that same girl being asked to dance with a complete stranger in a tango club in the heart of Buenos Aires at 1:00am. Does she say yes?

Before going to Buenos Aires, I never would've even imagined it. I went abroad for the credits and the experience, although mostly I just wanted to finally be bilingual after 18 years of trying and failing to learn. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew that it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was absolutely right!

I spent 6 weeks in Buenos Aires, just the right amount of time to fall in love with the city without getting homesick. I had an amazing host mom who only wanted me to do two things: speak Spanish and experience the city. I couldn't let her down, so I did exactly that! I went out with the other participants, talked with people on the streets, and I even had the chance to do a small internship with CELU - a company in charge of the language exams required for studying/working in Latin America.

I could write a book about all my wonderful experiences, but suffice it to say, it all led to me becoming the type of person who was asked to dance at a milonga early on a Friday morning. My time in Buenos Aires is unforgettable, and I don't regret a thing. Why don't I regret it? Because I said yes! ;)

This past summer I studied abroad for 6 weeks in Buenos Aires, Argentina through IES Abroad. From the moment I arrived in the airport until the day I left, I felt supported and encouraged from IES Abroad staff. At the airport, I received an alfajor, and this classic Argentinian snack became my after-lunch dessert everyday—for better or for worse. IES Abroad provided myself and the other people in the program with entertainment ranging from a tango show (after having an exciting tango lesson) to Fuerza Bruta (an immersive experience) to a rugby game. Through intimate dinners with my host family and classes most days, I truly started to understand and appreciate Argentinian culture. My teachers at the IES Abroad center cared about my interests and explained the daily customs of Buenos Aires. Even with planned activities spread throughout the 6 weeks, I still had time to explore Buenos Aires after class and on the weekends. We even went to Iguazu Falls early on—a site I will never forget. Whether visiting Barrio Chino, Café Tortoni, or Teatro Colón, I felt a part of Buenos Aires. Coming from Los Angeles, I knew how to live in a city, but Buenos Aires was like no other. My homestay was in Recoleta, surrounded by tall buildings and storefronts. On my walk to school each day, I marveled at the busy streets and crowded taxis. I lived off the energy around me. As for my Spanish, I realized I can live in a Spanish-speaking city, whether that involves hailing a taxi, doing my laundry, or ordering at the local café. The program supported me and the staff constantly made sure that I was enjoying my experience through discussions where we could be open about any problems we had faced. The team at IES Abroad always gave us recommendations for restaurants and weekend activities; I never had a dull moment in my 6 weeks. I cannot recommend studying abroad enough, but more so studying abroad with IES Abroad, as they care about their students and understand the difficulties that come with living in a different country.

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I loved studying abroad in Buenos Aires. The city is so lively, there is always something to do and something new to explore. The Argentine people are also so welcoming and friendly.

I really liked my program also but wish I had made more of an effort to immerse myself completely in Argentine culture. The IES program is pretty larch (70-80 students) and it is very easy to only hang out with other Americans and speak English.

The staff at IES was amazing though. Everyone was so nice and helpful and friendly I love them all and miss them already.

What would you improve about this program?

Perhaps there could have been better advising as far as classes go--especially classes taken at one of the local universities.

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because it had everything I wanted in a study abroad program. First, the length was perfect: 6 weeks. For me, that was enough time to explore the city and live abroad for the first time, but still short enough where I would not miss home too much.

The program also had pre-planned activities, which is something I wanted in order to add structure to my life abroad. Most importantly, this program focused primarily on learning the language and culture. I wanted to study abroad in order to improve my Spanish speaking skills, and also observe how other people live and experience their worlds. This program heavily focused on my two main objectives for studying abroad.

What did your program provider4assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

They gave us an extensive on-site orientation when we first got there, which was extremely helpful. In addition, they planned multiple activities throughout the 6 weeks. We had a tango lesson in our center and then we went to a lovely tango dinner show — which I appreciated way more after seeing how difficult it actually is to tango thanks to the lesson. We went to a rugby came in the province in Buenos Aires. We toured different cultural sectors of Argentina as a part of our class.

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We had a tour guide the first week to introduce us to all the sites Buenos Aires had to offer. In the beginning, we took a day trip to San Lujan, which was beautiful and extremely peaceful.

One of the most fun activities was our outing to Fuerza Bruta, which was a modern, interactive show that was all the rave at the time. Outside of these planned activities, I organized little adventures after class, such as going to Café Tortoni (the oldest café), visiting Barrio Chino, and shopping at cute stores in Palermo. The largest activity we planned a group outside of our program was our trip to Iguazú Falls. We all went to the airport together and stayed at the same hostel. It was the most amazing sight I have seen in my life!

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Explore on your own! I think some people in my program found themselves bored at times since our days were not booked from start to finish. They felt this way because they did not seek out opportunities on their own. That is extremely important when studying abroad. You get out of the experience what you put in.

Take those long walks to a site in Buenos Aires, wait in those lines to get into the café, and experience the city around you. Plan your own outings and use all the free time you have. Do not feel confined because you have class during the day—there is so much time after class, and before dinner to do something fun.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

You have class in the morning from 9-12, and then you have a 2-hour lunch break from 12-2 where you walk around a find a place to eat, or bring food from home. You have another class from 2-4. You are free from 4 until your host family has dinner, which is usually anytime between 8 and 10. This is the time that you plan on your own, such as going to a different district in Buenos Aires or finding a park to relax in. After dinner, you usually do homework for the next day or if it is Friday or a weekend you might go out with your friends.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was living with strangers that I would not meet until I got there. I overcame it by doing it. When I got to the homestay, I made sure to keep an open mind. It was awkward at first because we did not know each other, but my host mom was so sweet and made sure that I was always comfortable.

After my 6 weeks, I realized that the families that sign up to host students from abroad understand that you will be nervous and overwhelmed. They are there to support you and help you. Their number one priority is to make sure you feel comfortable in their home, and you learn amazing things about them along the way.

What do you wish you had known before studying abroad?

I wish I had known that one of the greatest parts of studying abroad is meeting the people that actually live and have grown up in the city. The locals are full of knowledge, and depending on who you meet they are really eager to help you have the best study abroad experience. They are proud of their city and they want you to feel that same pride before you leave. This ties into another piece of advice but I recommend that you get outside of your comfort zone at times and meet some people that live in the city. It will usually impact your experience for the better.

Sarah Braithwaite

2013 Alum

About IES Abroad

IES Abroad offers 140 programs worldwide for college students. We are a highly charged force of study abroad enthusiasts. Every day we have the privilege of witnessing how study abroad changes our students’ lives. We also believe that every student should have the opportunity to go abroad—especially in a fun, safe, and superior academic and...