From Nothing to So Much More Past Review

By (University of Maryland - College Park) - abroad from 06/09/2017 to 08/11/2017 with

AMIDEAST: Amman - Intensive Arabic, Summer

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was worth it to come here knowing nothing because it motivated me to learn as much as I could before leaving.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Didn't have any health issues

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 50 JD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Just be smart and keep yourself to a weekly budget, so when you go over one or two weeks then you are aware of it and just be careful to stay under budget other weeks. I marked down exactly how much I spent on what each day and that really helped to keep track of everything.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? none
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? Just talk to people in the street, the more you talk and the more you mess up, the more you keep in your head for later.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Forced to learn a lot
  • Didn't feel it was all classroom learning
* What could be improved?
  • Prepping more academically beforehand
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish the program adapted its packing list. I brought so many unnecessary things like sweatpants and a raincoat that I never used because the program didn't quite say that it doesn't drop to that cold of temperatures here in the summer and it doesn't rain in the summer.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.