The Best Experience of My College Career Past Review
By Adam Landau (George Washington University) - abroad from 01/19/2020 to 05/05/2020 with
American Councils (ACTR): Advanced Russian Language & Area Studies Program (RLASP)
I learned about Russian culture, mentality and how others live. All of this helped a lot with learning the language, so it was very worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
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 |
Somewhat of an 'on your own' situation, but that was fine for me. I liked having a good degree of freedom in what I was doing. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a very comfortable apartment with an incredibly nice host mom. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I wasn't sure what to expect before I got to Russia, but when I was there, I felt totally safe. As safe as I feel in any American city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
American Councils sets you up to have the most immersive experience an American can get. From living with a Russian host family, to spending time in immersive, Russian-only classes, to going on weekly cultural excursions, you really get a feel for the country and the people living there. |
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) |
Obviously, you're studying abroad and there are opportunities to spend a good amount of money. However, Moscow is going to feel cheap for an American, so it's easier to not spend that much. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Between $50 and $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | As an American, it's best not to use your credit card for safety reasons (Russian credit cards have much more security), and many places in Russia don't accept credit cards anyway, so cash is the way to go. To save money, you should think about how much you might need for one day and take that plus a little bit more, just in case. This way, it is hard to overspend or give into temptations. If you want something, you can always go back and get it another day. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | I had completed 5 semesters of college Russian courses. |
| 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? | When you're in Russia, do not shy away from using the language. It might be stressful and you might be timid, but if you push yourself for the first few weeks, by the end you'll be so much more confident with speaking. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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? | Time abroad goes quick, so you need to make sure you aren't lazy about going to the places you want to see. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
