Amman is what you make of it. Past Review
By A student (Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 09/02/2012 to 12/21/2012 with
CIEE: Amman - Language and Culture
I learned to be more patient with myself, my studies, and my situation. Living in Amman presented a set of challenges that forced me to get out of my comfort zone in a way that I may not have had in another city. I'm glad I went.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
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? |
Healthcare is fairly easily accessible. Jordan is known in the region as the site of some medical tourism, so healthcare is promoted pretty well. Also, any doctor educated in Jordan likely did his or her coursework in English, which means easier access for English-speaking patients. |
| * Safety: |
As long as you avoid stupid situations, Amman is a safe city – the same goes for anywhere else, of course. |
| 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) |
Amman is usually considered an expensive city, particularly with recent increases in some food and fuel prices. But students who are cautious with their money can easily make it the whole semester on a student budget. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | As a student in a home stay, most of my food was paid for as part of the program cost. Any food I chose to buy during the week came out of my own pocket, so I spent very little, if I could avoid it. |
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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 250, or interemediate |
| 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? | The best way to practice the language is to go speak the language with other people who speak the language. The same applies for any language in any place. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It's difficult to compare my perception of the program before I went with my actual experience, in part because (I think) what I expected of the program was unrealistic simply because I had little experience with the program and the country. The point of study abroad is learning in a very different way, and I certainly accomplished that. In other words, any student going to Amman should be ready to reevaluate what they want to get from the program based on their experiences. Ultimately, the reward will be what you make it, particularly in light of what opportunities you seize and how willing you are to make the most of your time. |
