Chinese Adventures in Language Classes, Public Transit, and Fake Markets Past Review
By Jennifer A (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Vanderbilt University) - abroad from 06/12/2012 to 08/20/2012 with
CET Shanghai
I learned about what it means to live in a completely different culture. From the food to the language, it was an experience that I'll treasure. Definitely one of the most difficult but also worthwhile experiences I've ever had.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Highly rigorous Chinese classes. Every single teacher takes a sincere interest in engaging you and seeing you succeed. The teachers make the classes. They are difficult and hard so be prepared to put in the hours. |
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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: |
The cafeteria food at Donghua wasn't my favorite but the surrounding establishments (street food, dumplings, soup houses, etc) were WONDERFUL. |
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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: |
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| 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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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100 |
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? | Beginner |
| 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? | 200 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? | I wish I'd have converted all of my money before going abroad instead of doing it incrementally. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Chinese 150 Adv. Beginning |
| Course Department: | Chinese |
| Instructor: | Professor Liu |
| Instruction Language: | Chinese |
| Comments: | Fantastic. Takes a genuine interest in students and sincerely wants to see you succeed. The course is challenging and fast-paced but it's expected from an 8-week program. My Chinese improved significantly. Daily dictations, weekly oral exams, written essays, and tests are challenging but well worth the significant improvements you'll see. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
History of Shanghai |
| Course Department: | History |
| Instructor: | Professor Pan |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Communication barrier, poor teaching style that did not reach American students. Did not capture and hold attention and failed to engage students. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
