Arabic, Deserts, and Tea Past Review
By A student (University of the Pacific) - abroad from 01/21/2012 to 05/14/2012 with
CIEE: Amman - Language and Culture
Yes it was worthwhile. I learned/gained a lot - a language, friends, new goals and ambitions
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. |
Beginning Arabic was amazing, culture courses could have been better |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everybody was always around the office, not only willing to hang out with their free time but also help with anything you might need. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The homestay option is a good one, however my specific placement in a homestay was not a good fit. |
| * Food: |
YUM! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
CIEE did a good job at keeping you involved with the community you were in and if you were off on your own the Arab hospitality made meeting locals easy |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never had any health issues but the people who did were well cared for. |
| * Safety: |
If anything CIEE is overprotective of the students in Jordan. If you stay anywhere other than your homestay overnight you are required to fill out a form detailing all relevant travel information. I felt safer there than I do wandering around Stockton. |
| 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) |
Food and transportation was extremely cheap (falafal sandwich =.35 quirsh, 15 min taxi ride = 1.85 dinar) |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Counting taxi to and from school 30 JD without taxi 10-15 JD |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't go out drinking (in Jordan), it's not accepted by the culture and expensive, take buses, find the hole in the wall delicious food - it's generally cheaper and better |
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 |
We had 12 hours worth of Arabic class a week, peer tutors, arabic was spoken in the homestay, and to get anywhere from point A to point B required arabic. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| 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? | No arabic |
| 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? | Get out of your comfort zone, speak it with your American friends, and take any chance you have to speak it with locals. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | nothing more that middle eastern history |
