Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

worthwhile May 31, 2023

By (International and Global Studies: Global Environmental Change, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/20/2023 to 05/20/2023 with

CET Taiwan

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
being abroad taught me to value my time and how I spend it. It taught me a lot of life skills that I don't think I would have learned otherwise. Overall it was a very worthwhile experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

While I loved the location, people, and the experiences i gained through this program, however in terms of academics and language learning I was not fully satisfied with the program.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? probably around $140 a week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make sure to keep track of the money you spend on a daily basis and making a budget plan for the week. Also the cost of living in your host country will probably be cheaper than the U.S. It's better to compare it to your host countries means of what is expensive rather than to the U.S.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
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? 301
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Surrounding yourself with locals and speaking to them.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
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?
  • Location
  • Housing
  • cultural immersion activities
* What could be improved?
  • Length of the program
  • Implementation of language pledge possibly
  • more classes using the language of study
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that doing the internship class would guarantee an early morning class.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

PBHL 310: Global Health: the perspective from Taiwan

Course Department: IGST, Global Health, CHNS, HIST
Instructor: JhuCin Rita Jhang
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was one of my favorite classes I have taken so far. I enjoyed the professors lecturing style a lot and she was so knowledgable on Taiwan, China, and U.S history and politics. Her lectures made complex topics a lot easier to digest. In this class I definitely participated more than I would in my home institution. The field trips were also really informative specifically when we went to visit the Taiwan ICDF (International Cooperation and Development Fund).
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

CHNS 0302
Course Department: Chinese CLD
Instructor: Liu Hsiao-Sheng
Instruction Language: Chinese
Comments: This class was challenging specifically when it came to the way we were tested in our exams during speaking portion. Overall it was a decent class, however I do wish there was more flexibility into our homework specifically prior to test days.
Credit Transfer Issues: