A Great Learning Experience Past Review
By Katy K (Chinese Studies., Trinity University) - abroad from 01/21/2015 to 05/14/2015 with
IFSA/Alliance: Shanghai - 21st Century City
While I learned a lot about Shanghainese culture and improved my Chinese, I also learned that I'm not the biggest fan of the great trend of globalization that has overtaken Shanghai.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Any lack of integration was by my own choice; I know several other students were more integrated. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was never sick enough to need healthcare, but I know several other students who did become sick and were immediately attended to, taken to the english speaking hospital by the administration within a day. |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
It's very easy to live cheaply in Shanghai. When you can get breakfast for a dollar, lunch for $1.5, and dinner for around the same, it's not hard. However, the bubble teas can add up, and eating western food every night will definitely be a drain on your budget. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Between 80-150 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Encouraged, but outside of the three hours of class time, not enforced. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | A 400 level course |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Try, try, try to speak with your roommates--both Alliance and Chinese. Any little bit will help. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | nothing |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
