SIT Study Abroad

I absolutely loved my experience, from the programs staff, to my host family to our planned; trips, classes and activities, all were fantastic! I entered the program with; a fair amount of exposure to spanish emersion environments, questionable but consistent background in spanish from high school, 2 semesters of college spanish and a year break between when I took spanish and when I went abroad. I also am dyslexic, so learning language in a classroom is more difficult for me. I was unique in my SIT student cohort, because almost everyone had more spanish credits then I did. At first the full emersion aspect of the program was overwhelming because it used so much energy to translate everything, while adjusting to learning my new day to day schedule. But it was definitely worth it to stick it out and probably my favorite aspect of the program. By the end of the semester I left feeling confident navigating and communicating in full emersion environment, a skill I’d abandoned mastering in a classroom due to my dyslexia. I would recommend this program to any and all!

Dear reader, do yourself a favor and apply! This study abroad opportunity was so phenomenal. I had previously studied abroad and this experience was by far the better experience due to the incredibly wonderful professors and staff in Buenos Aires, my wonderful host mom (and the wonderful host parents of my friends too), the fabulous city and wonderful friends I met. I had the opportunity to do the ISP option which was so rewarding -- I am so proud of what I came up with and grateful for all the support I received along the way. You will learn so much and have so much fun. DO IT.

The SIT Argentina program was an incredibly formative academic and personal experience. With a strong foundation in Spanish, I found the coursework to be intellectually engaging and well-paced, though even students with less language experience were able to succeed thanks to the supportive and accessible teaching environment. The small cohort size allowed for deep discussions and consistent interaction with professors, and the classroom component was enriched by two weeks of fieldwork, which brought our studies to life in a powerful way. The local staff were one of the program’s greatest assets—deeply caring, present, and helpful long after the program ended. While my individual housing situation was not ideal and my host family did not provide great meals, I believe that was an exception rather than the norm. Outside of that, Argentina offered fantastic and affordable food options, though being vegetarian was a bit limiting. Socially, I enjoyed exploring the city through daily swims, café hopping, and public transportation, even if I didn’t prioritize making local friends. Health services, including therapy and acupuncture, were easy to access and well-coordinated by SIT. I felt safe throughout my time there by using common sense and being aware of my surroundings. Financially, the favorable exchange rate made it easy to live on a student budget. Ultimately, this program launched two thesis projects and laid the groundwork for my Fulbright application and master’s degree. I would absolutely choose it again.