Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Great one on one language learning Past Review

By (University of Washington) - abroad from 09/02/2013 to 06/30/2014 with

Chinese Language Institute / CLI: Guilin - Immersion Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot of useful Chinese for my day to day life living in China. I also made a lot of friends and had a great experience living abroad.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The teachers were friendly and very good teachers. Having one on one lessons really helped me improve my Chinese, especially my listening and speaking since I was conversing and using new vocabulary the whole lesson.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Every time I talked with the administration at CLI they were helpful and quick to help me with what I needed.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

The shared meals at CLI are delicious, and a great way to meet other people.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Learning Chinese from CLI definitely helped me integrate more into Chinese culture, and helped me have more successful and meaningful conversation with local people.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt incredibly safe in Guilin.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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? 25 USD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try not to go out for western food very much. Most local food is quite cheap.

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? 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? 1 Year of study
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
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?
  • One on One Lessons
  • Shared Home Cooked Meals
  • Friendly Teachers and Administration
* What could be improved?
  • .
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? .

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.