Studying in Siena made me feel like an Italian! Past Review
By Francesca T (Biology, University of Virginia) for
CET Siena
This experience changed me life! i had so much fun but also learned so much about the Italians, the Sienese, and myself. It was wonderful and I'm so grateful. I have a lot of new skills traveling and adapting to new situations, especially ones that might deal with cultural differences. Though I studied mostly humanities while abroad and I am going into scientific research, I firmly believe that my experience made me a stronger scientist who is confident to think outside of the box and interactive enough to forge collaborations.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The teachers are phenomenal, unique, and passionate. The courses are interesting and combined very well with our surroundings so that you feel like you're in a living classroom that is teaching you language, culture, and history. They are either Italian or have a very strong connection to Italy and so are wonderful resources outside of the classroom as well to help you pursue any other interests. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The RA of the program was beyond supportive. She was always available and very helpful. She was very on her game with organizing amazing events for us that were fun, culturally informative, and not too traditional/touristy. Through her planning, I literally saw where every one of my dollars I paid went and it was a bargain! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Grocery store close by if you wanted to make your own food or the university dining hall, which was a great place to meet other students. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We took a field trip to Rome and Catania and not only was it a great bonding experience but a wonderful traveling experience. It was really cool to see such different cities and have everything organized so well. It was seamless, comfortable, and fun! Our RA also helped us organize other trips that our whole group wanted to do, like a trip to Viareggio for Carnivale. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Siena was incredibly safe and we were well-prepared and educated about any risks before we went to new cities. |
| 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
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I had no previous experience with Italian coming into the program and felt very prepared after the one-month intensive program. I could practice with my Italian roommate or his friends and the Sienese were very receptive to us speaking Italian and would speak Italian back to us instead of reverting to English. The teaching methods are a little different, there is very little English, but I think it is more effective. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This is a smaller program, but it's the perfect size for someone seeking cultural immersion and a more personalized abroad experience. CET helps you develop through the experience into a strong and confident individual. |
