ISA Study Abroad in Salamanca, Spain

Name: ISA Study Abroad in Salamanca, Spain
Brand: ISA (International Studies Abroad)
SKU: 15787
Rating: 9.38 (13 reviews)

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ISA Salamanca (photo taken by Katie Odens ISA alumn Fall 2012)

ISA Salamanca, Spain (photo taken by Kelsey Guziak ISA alumn Spring 2012)

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About

Study abroad with ISA in Salamanca, Spain, at the University of Salamanca. This is the first program ISA ever offered, back in 1987, and it has retained a great reception through today. Salamanca is a great place to study in Europe, with a relatively close proximity to a major city (Madrid) and a retained cultural atmosphere relatively untouched by outside western influence. The city is small enough to navigate by foot, allowing you to gain an intimate understanding of the local landscape and culture.

Known to offer some of the best and purest Spanish language and culture courses in the world, the University of Salamanca is a great place to reach the next level in your Spanish proficiency. Sign up with ISA today to travel to this beautiful city, and have the trip of a lifetime!

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ISA is committed to increasing all students’ access to study abroad’s many benefits. We don't let financial hardships to get in the way of a life changing educational experience.

Value

$350 - $2,000

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Reviews

9.38 Rating

based on 13 reviews

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Rating Spread Study

9-10 rating 84.62%
7-8 rating 15.38%
5-6 rating 0%
3-4 rating 0%
1-2 rating 0%

Academics 8.9
Support 9.6
Fun 8.8
Housing 9.1
Safety 9.5

Showing 1 - 8 of 13

Growing up, my family and I never got the chance to travel other than the occasional trip to Kansas City for a softball tournament and Wisconsin Dells when I was 12. Being from South Dakota, a very rural state lacking in excitement and diversity, I wanted to explore the world while improving my Spanish language skills. ISA granted me the perfect opportunity to do so. The size of Salamanca was perfect. Not nearly as chaotic and overwhelming as Madrid, but far from being as dry as my college town. For starters, the staff at ISA are excellent at communicating and responding to every concern and question you may have about your trip abroad. Their website presents hundreds of programs in over 69 different countries so you will definitely be able to find one that works for you! My trip abroad included excursions to Portugal, Sevilla, Segovia, Madrid, and Toledo, along with an optional trip to Morocco, which I endured of course. I rode camels and ATVs through the Sahara desert, took a tram up the Swiss Alps, and ate one too many tapas, all while growing my Spanish speaking abilities! I also made lifelong friends who I still stay in contact with to this day! Thank you ISA :)

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

Definitely an octopus tentacle! I thought it was calamari, oops!

Salamanca is a small, unique, historic, lively, young city, perfect for students looking for a richly cultured experience abroad. Salamanca is so gorgeous and historic, yet it has such a large student population that it is incredibly young and vibrant, especially at night! The food, atmosphere, nightlife, and even daytime activities kept me busy and entertained all day everyday. I made some very dear friends in my program, and made friends with locals! The people of Salamanca-especially students--are just as eager to meet new people and make friends as you are. Unlike the larger cities of Spain, Salamanca is very small and walkable and CHEAP!!! This made coming back from traveling to bustling, more expensive cities so comforting because life in Salamanca is more relaxed. I can count on one hand how many times I used a taxi and/or public transportation there. My professors were all wonderful. They were passionate about the subjects they taught and engaged in our learning process. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this city and this program. I miss it everyday and will definitely return to the Golden City.

What would you improve about this program?

Because drinking is so instilled in the culture of Spain, I wish when we went on excursions with ISA we were permitted to drink. I understand that something must have happened in the past to make this rule happen but it would have been nice to mix that social aspect with our excursions and program leaders, whom I really enjoyed.

This was my first time studying abroad. I was beyond nervous, but this was the best experience of my life. ISA had so many opportunities and activities that kept us busy but we still had the opportunity to hangout and explore with our friends. The staff was beyond exceptional, and supported me with all my fears and complications. My first problem was missing luggage and the staff called the airport and had my luggage sent to my hotel room. I had the best time. I have no complaints at all. There were many opportunities after ISA.

What would you improve about this program?

I had so much fun with my program I can't even think of anything I would change.

I originally signed up to do a program in Spain with one of my college friends. She backed out a few months before we were supposed to go. I thought about backing out too, but decided to just go through with it. I was nervous, to say the least. I didn't know anyone and my Spanish wasn't that great. Thanks to ISA, I had the experience of a lifetime.

The ISA program put me in positions to meet other people. I made friends that I still talk to today. They helped me review areas of Spanish that were weak so I could keep up with my classes. More importantly, they helped my build the confidence to enjoy living in another country.

What would you improve about this program?

Finding my group at the airport (on the first day) was difficult. I went to the bathroom before finding the group and almost missed the bus. Some kind of check in or instruction would have been helpful.

Salamanca is a very under-rated city in Spain and should seriously be considered more often by prospective students.
ISA staff was ALWAYS available for us, no matter the situation and they are all just so down to earth, friendly, warm and welcoming people.
Salamanca was by far my favorite city in Europe. Not only is it absolutely beautiful, but it is also rich in history and culture. Walking into the Plaza Mayor for the first time was breath-taking, and each time I passed through, I could help but admire its beauty. The classes were very interesting, the professors were amazing, and the location of the city was very strategic. It was only a (2hr) bus ride away from the Madrid airport. My host parents were very accommodating and loved to cook for me and my roommate, yet were very understanding when we made other dinner plans with friends. I definitely recommend staying in a home stay in order to be fully immersed in the culture, and especially if learning spanish is a main goal of yours!

What would you improve about this program?

My only complaint about Salamanca was that we didn't have an airport, so it made traveling a little bit of a longer trip because we had to take a bus/train into Madrid before going anywhere. Although this was my only down side, I would still study abroad there again if I had the chance just because I loved living in this small, quaint city.

I loved studying abroad in Salamanca because it gave me a perfect immersion into Spanish culture with the college-town feel. My professors really fostered cultural learning and awareness, but were also in tune with international students wanting to experience the culture hands-on and outside the classroom as well. The ISA staff was beyond helpful with anything and everything, while my living situation in a residencia helped me make friends from all around Spain and develop in my speaking skills!

one of the things that made this trip so wonderful was the helpful staff of ISA. They were very friendly and willing to help you with whatever you needed, homework, finding a good restaurant, or finding places to travel they were there. They also organized a lot of events (mostly free) that we were able to participate in. The events ranged from going to see a movie, or see a flamenco show, or play soccer in the park. If there was different staff then I think the trip would not have been as fun. They made the culture shock less shocking and helped us get the most out of our excursions and our trip in general.

What would you improve about this program?

My living situation. The host family was not the best and my roommate and I were complete opposites.

I enjoyed my time over there. I payed attention and got good grades, but i could have worked harder. The program is organized and there were no kinks. I enjoyed my homestay as well. Would do again if I had the chance.

Alumni Interviews

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

Why did you decide to study abroad with ISA in Salamanca, Spain?

Will: I was at a friend's house talking about our upcoming college classes and our mutual distaste in be required to take a foreign language. I was looking through the course catalog online when I stumbled onto a link to study abroad. Ohio State has a program where you can go to Mexico for a quarter and count it as 3/4s of the language requirement...you only had to take the first class. I suggested this to my friend as a quick way to get out of the class as well as get to travel. She liked the idea, but suggested that we go to Spain instead...if you're going to travel, why not travel somewhere far away, right?

So, I started looking at options for studying abroad in Spain. During that time, I also took two Spanish classes and was surprised to find that I really enjoyed learning another language. My friend and I had a good year to plan, so we looked at different options. After the end of the first quarter, she decided that she didn't want to study abroad...but I was set on the idea. Ohio State didn't have any programs that went to Spain, but it looked like there was a loose partnership with ISA...so I signed up.

(Unrelated, I later found out that I would not be getting credits for the classes I was taking and ended up having to take the remaining Spanish classes when I returned, thus delaying my graduation. This was an issue with Ohio State, not with ISA).

What made studying abroad a unique and special experience?

Will: My family is not known as being adventurous. My father's first plane ride and first glimpse of the ocean didn't happen until after he was 50; everyone tends to be happier close to home. I've always been different in that I like seeing the world. In fact, trying explain why I wanted to go to Spain was nearly impossible - my parents just didn't get it.

For me, this trip was big. I had never been anywhere by myself for that length of time before. After my friend backed out, I was going to Salamanca without knowing anyone. I later found out that there were people from my college on this trip, but not people I had ever met before. Not only would I be studying Spanish at one of the oldest universities in Europe, I would be living in a completely different culture. It was both exciting and scary.

The program was special because it forced me out of my comfort zone and made me grow. I ended up testing into a higher level that I would have though....and thus had to work hard to keep up. I remember being extremely frustrated because of the initial demands of class, but rising to the challenge made me not only a stronger Spanish speaker, but a stronger person in general.

Doing this program gave me a strong confidence and also served as a home base for other travels through the summer. While ISA had several weekend excursions for us, there was also time to do some exploring on my own. I was able to do a trip to Morocco, Portugal, and even ran with the bulls in Pamplona. After the program ended, I took advantage of my location to backpack Europe...something I doubt I would have ever been able to do on my own.

I made friends in Salamanca from all over the world. I mostly ran around with a girl from Greece and one from France, and I made rather good friends with a guy from Korea. With that, I made friends with people over the U.S....some of who I still talk to once in a while today.

How has this experience impacted your future?

Will: Currently, I work for a company called Rustic Pathways. We do community service, language, and adventure programs for high school students (similar to study abroad in some aspects) - I work in Costa Rica for about half of the year organizing and running these programs. Had it not been for my travel experiences in Europe and my familiarity with Spanish (even thought Costa Rica pretty much speaks a different kind of Spanish), I would have never gotten this position. Now, I get to not only encourage students to see the world, but I get to continue seeing the world myself.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel memory was going to Greece for my fall break during my 3rd and final study abroad experience! I fell in love with the people, the food, the beaches and even the stray cats! It was definitely the vacation of a lifetime!

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

The most underrated destination in my opinion is by far Belgium! It is the capital of Europe. Brussels, the capital, is also a French-speaking city. It was a great alternative to being in France. The French is easier to understand and the people were more willing to help you with your French. Brussels is a great mix of the French language and German culture!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have learned a lot about the field of International Education while working for International Studies Abroad. There is a lot that goes into helping students fulfill their dreams of studying abroad. It is not just booking trips and picking classes, there are a lot of details to see to.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

One of the things I love about International Studies Abroad is how we are there to support students before, during and after their study abroad experience. I was a student who went through ISA and truly valued all the support I was given before departing for my program, during my stay in Belgium, and after my program. They helped me articulate my experiences of studying abroad on my resume and in my cover letters. It was a quality I found very useful!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

As a student, I choose to study abroad through ISA. While I did not know what would come of my experience when I first arrived home, It opened the door for my current career. Upon returning from Belgium, I became a Global Ambassador on my university's campus. I really fell in love with the field of International Education. I decided that it fit well with my personality and that I wanted to pursue a job in that field upon graduation.

My campus representative from ISA knew of this wish and notified me when a spot had opened up with ISA in their Austin office! I am forever grateful to her and the company for making all of this happen for me. Without studying abroad, I would not be where I am today!

About ISA (International Studies Abroad)

As a leader in international education for over thirty years, ISA is dedicated to providing university and college level students the opportunity to discover, learn, and enjoy a way of life other than their own. ISA offers a diverse portfolio of education abroad programs across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific. Our worldwide...

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ISA Study Abroad in Salamanca, Spain

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