DUBLIN IRELAND, NO WORDS CAN DESCRIBE WHAT AN AMAZING PLACE IT IS. Past Review
By CHRISTINA S (COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA, Indiana University of Pennsylvania) for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Dublin, Ireland
IF I COULD RE-LIVE OR GO BACK TOMORROW I WOULD. THIS OPPORTUNITY MADE ME GROW AS A PERSON AND OPEN MY EYES TO THINGS I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OF BEFORE. IT HELPED SHOW ME THAT THERE ARE GREAT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND THE DIFFERENT WAYS OF LIFE PEOPLE LIVE EVERYDAY. THERE REALLY ARE NO WORDS TO EXPLAIN THE EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE WITH GOING ABROAD..BUT IT CHANGES YOU IN WAYS YOU DON'T KNOW OR DO KNOW, FOR THE ABSOLUTE BETTER.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
THE TEACHERS USED THE IRISH GRADING SCALE, BUT GAVE YOU THE AMERICAN GRADE. THE TEACHING METHODS WERE SIMILAR, BUT ALSO DIFFERENT. THEY BASE A LOT OF YOUR GRADE ON CLASS PERTICIPATION AND ARE VERY INVOLVED WITH THE STUDENTS AND VERY OPEN MINDED TO CHANGING THE SYLLABUS IF THE STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT A DIFFERENT TOPIC THAT APPLIES TO THE CLASS. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
THEY ARE VERY STRONG IN KNOWING THE AREA AND SUGGESTING THINGS FOR STUDENTS TO GO SEE AND ALSO THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF OPPORTUINITIES TO MEET OTHER STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF THE AMERICANS. HOWEVER; I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY MIXED THE AMERICAN STUDENT WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OR EVEN THE IRISH STUDENTS. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
IT IS ABOUT A 30MIN WALK AWAY FROM TEMPLE BAR AND TO SCHOOL. IT SEEMS FAR NOW, BUT WHEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY WALKING IT IT'S NOT THAT BAD AT ALL. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK THE WALK BECOMES SO ENJOYABLE AND YOU GET TO PEOPLE WATCH THE WHOLE WALK THERE. IT ALSO GETS YOU TO SEE DIFFERENT PARTS OF DUBLIN THAT YOU WOULDN'T IF WALKING A SHORT DISTANCE. ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED IN THE BUILDING NEVER CAUSED ANY PROBLEM OR EVER MADE ME FEEL UNSAFE. WE WOULD CONSTANTLY BE RUNNING BACK AND FORTH FROM EACH OTHERS ROOMS AND LEAVING OUR DOORS OPEN FOR VISITORS. THE SECURITY IS VERY GREAT. ONE DOWNSIDE IS THAT THE LAUNDRY FACILITY THAT IS PROVIDED WAS USUALLY BROKEN AND COSTS SIX EURO FOR ONE WASH AND ONE DRY. THE MACHINES ARE VERY SMALL AND THE DRYER DOESN'T ALWAYS DRY YOUR CLOTHES. |
| * Food: |
THERE WAS NOT A FOOD/MEAL PLAN PROVIDED WITH THE PROGRAM. HOWEVER; THERE WAS A CAFE/CAFETERIA IN THE BUILDING THAT WAS WELL PRICES AND VERY GOOD. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
THE PROGRAM OFFERS WEEKEND/DAY TRIPS AROUND IRELAND. I DID NOT MISS ONE, EACH ONE IS FULL OF LIFETIME MEMORIES AND LETS YOU SEE DIFFFERNT PARTS OF IRELAND, AND HOW EACH PLACE HOLDS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. KERRY IS ONE TRIP TO DEFINATELY NOT MISS. IT IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND SHOWS YOU THE TRUE COUNTRYSIDE OF IRELAND. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
IF YOU ARE EVER SICK OR FEEL UNSAFE AND TALK TO THE PROGRAM DIRECTORS AT THE UNIVERSITY OR YOUR TEACHER, THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM THAT DAY OR DIRECT YOU TO THE NEAREST DOCTOR AND GIVE YOU DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT TO DO. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | NONE |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BRANCH OUT AND GROW AS A PERSON THIS IS FOR YOU. THE CITY IS FULL OF LIFE AND CARING PEOPLE. YOU NEVER FEEL UNSAFE AND THE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WANTING TO TALK AND HAVE A GREAT TIME. ANY STUDENT WHO IS LOOKING TO CRACK OUT OF THEIR SHELL AND HAVE A GREAT TIME. DUBLIN,IRELAND IS FOR YOU. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
IRISH LITERATURE |
| Course Department: | LITERATURE |
| Instructor: | STEVEN MAHON |
| Instruction Language: | ENGLISH |
| Comments: | THIS CLASS WAS THE BEST CLASS I TOOK ABROAD. I DISLIKE LITERATURE, HOWEVER; THIS TEACHER IS FULL OF ENERGY AND PASSION FOR THE TOPIC. HE LOVES EACH STUDENT AND GENUINELY CARES FOR EACH ONE. HE IS VERY ORGANIZED AND WELL PREPARED FOR EACH CLASS. IF YOU ARE EVER CONFUSED OR HAVE QUESTIONS OUTSIDE OF CLASS HE WILL ANSWER WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF AN EMAIL. I AM SO GLAD I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THIS CLASS ABROAD WITH SUCH A WELL ROUNDED TEACHER. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | NOT THAT I AM AWARE OF AT THE MOMENT. |
