What the China? Past Review
By Helena S (Plan Ii, The University of Texas at Austin) for
CET Shanghai
I think my language abilities jumped up so far it made all the craziness worthwhile. I also made a lasting bond with my roommate and will never forget the people I met and friendships I made there.
Review Photos
 
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. | Though the workload is tough, and you won't sleep, you will get a lot out of the experience--your language will improve and you'll make some fast friends. | 
| * Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program | I thought all of the faculty was extremely enthusiastic. They were always eager to help, and were quite strict on their rules. However, communication could be an issue sometimes--we would get emails hours before they were applicable, sometimes with deadlines included. | 
| * Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? | Our dorm was right next to class and the subway, my roommate was amazing, and sheets and things were provided for us. | 
| * Food: | 
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| * Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture? | Our program arranged a fantastic field trip to Wenzhou, it was exhausting, but in three days we went to the beach, a Daoist temple on a mountain top, and a series of natural pools and waterfalls. | 
| * Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program? | 
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| * Safety: | Don't eat too much street food! It's okay every once in awhile, but sometimes it can make you really sick (like no moving for a week sick). I never went to a doctor there, but I heard it wasn't easy and was quite expensive. I didn't need any vaccines (but I've been there and possibly had them before so don't listen to me). | 
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? | Yes 
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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) | 
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I really wish I knew our food wouldn't be taken care of. My last program (a maymester through UT) had put money on our cafeteria card, and I expected the same. However, the program pays for only housing, water, internet, and classes. | 
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes | 
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner | 
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Chinese 412L | 
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? | 
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| Language acquisition improvement? | I practiced with my roommate every day (she wasn't supposed to speak English with me). No, most people did not speak English, I spoke Chinese with almost all of my local interactions. | 
Other Program Information
| * 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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Get started on your caffeine addiction now, and bring lots of UTexas stuff for the roommates. | 
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: | Advanced-Intermediate Chinese | 
| Course Department: | Chinese 300 | 
| Instructor: | Xu Xiaoyuan | 
| Instruction Language: | Chinese | 
| Comments: | Extremely rigorous, but the teacher was knowledgeable, and overall quite patient. | 
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I haven't done credit transfer yet. | 
| Course Name/Rating: | History of Modern Shanghai | 
| Course Department: | none | 
| Instructor: | Maura Cunningham | 
| Instruction Language: | English | 
| Comments: | This professor really knew her subject. The class was interesting and engaging and I would take it again without credit in a heartbeat. | 
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Not yet! | 
| Course Name/Rating: | Internship | 
| Course Department: | none | 
| Instructor: | none | 
| Instruction Language: | English | 
| Comments: | Valuable in work experiences, most definitely. | 
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Haven't transferred yet. | 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
