Immersion (almost) May 24, 2023
By A student (Global Security Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 03/17/2023 to 05/20/2023 with
CET Taiwan
I gained work experience, friends, language skills, and important cultural knowledge. This program was extremely worthwhile.
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. |
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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: |
We were left on our own for food, but food in Taiwan is cheap and readily available, so there was no problem! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Although we had a local Taiwanese roommate in every apartment, due to our coursework being segregated from the rest of the courses offered at the university, I never had a chance to integrate with other Taiwanese students in an academic or school setting. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Although our insurance is quite good, having more help navigating the mind-numbing bureaucracy of the Taiwanese healthcare system would be appreciated. |
| * Safety: |
Taipei is one of the safest cities in the world, and I never once felt in danger in my 6 months there; many local women even walk home at night completely alone, and there is no sense of danger anywhere in the city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
Now that it is available, I would choose the Middlebury School abroad in Taiwan, as Middlebury schools are far more immersive. This is in no way criticism of CET; I had a wonderful time and am forever grateful for my experience. |
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) |
Taiwan is extremely affordable, $10/day is completely doable, $15/day allows for eating just about anything you want every day (within reason). |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about $110/week on food and other expenses. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Establishing a routine is the best way to save money. Learn where the best-tasting, cheapest food is, and make it a part of your schedule. The student cafeteria is a healthy, affordable, and delicious option. The most expensive food is not always the best. Follow the locals, and if you see a big line outside a restaurant at lunch, it is likely both cheap and delicious. |
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 |
The program encouraged us to use Chinese, but had no positive or negative incentives to encourage us to do so. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Chinese 400 was the highest level I had completed prior to departure. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Speak the language outside of class and at home with your peers. If your Chinese doesn't leave the classroom, it will not improve. Make some Taiwanese friends though student organizations, and speak with your fellow American roommates at home, and you will see a world of difference. |
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? | N/A |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Internship Bridging Theory and Practice |
| Course Department: | CET |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This course was not challenging, as it was simply a course meant to accompany my internship experience. Although the professor was wonderful, I would have liked to learn only in Chinese and alongside local students. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I am not planning on transferring credit for this course. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Chinese |
| Course Department: | CLD |
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| Instruction Language: | Chinese |
| Comments: | This was a moderately challenging, intensive Chinese course with an 8-1 student to teacher ratio. I appreciated the small class and the academic rigor. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I have not yet encountered any credit transfer issues for this course. |
