The study abroad program you were waiting for! Past Review
By Beatrice U (Chinese Language, Political Philosophy, Bennington College) - abroad from 03/01/2015 to 07/26/2015 with
China Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
For anybody who was wondering that, China Study Abroad is a real company. I was very nervous about coming to China and had just about a million questions concerning every aspect of my stay. China Study Abroad assisted me from picking the program and city most suitable to my needs, to seeing me off at the end of 6 months. They ensured that every detail of my experience in China was taken care of, from my accommodation with a local homestay, to transferring my credits to my American university. I could not have asked for a better program. If what you are looking for is a reasonably priced program that will take care of the basic aspects of your permanence in China while offering you a great deal of opportunities, CSA is definitely the program for you. The staff is very friendly and the work environment is relaxed and casual. I was in Beijing with CSA from March 2015 until July 2015, and am now working as an intern for them in Beijing. If you have any questions about studying abroad in China and/or, please do not hesitate to contact me at my email address bugolini@bennington.edu
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I studied at BLCU (Beijing Language and Culture University) for one semester. The course was of course pretty challenging, but my teachers were really amazing. I had a great experience. I would definitely recommend BLCU for anyone interested in learning Chinese. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
China Study Abroad was an excellent choice for a study abroad program. They did exactly what they were expected to do, and went above and beyond to ensure every aspect of my stay in China was taken care of. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
As requested by me, China Study Abroad placed me in a Chinese homestay for the duration of my semester. The family was great, and I had an amazing time with them and I'm still keeping in touch. |
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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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| 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) |
Compared to Europe and the US, China is fairly cheap, especially when it comes to food. Clothing and entertainment can be expensive, especially when looking for "Western" options. |
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? | College level courses |
| 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? | That everything was gonna be fine |
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.' |
