Amman, Jordan: My First Trip Outside The States Past Review
By A student (International Relations And Global Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 06/05/2012 to 07/27/2012 with
CIEE: Amman - Summer Arabic Language
My Arabic greatly improved and dealing with people of a vastly different culture was an indispensable experience. The trip was amazing.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Brandeis University and Gettysburg College |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Simply great. It was a little hard going from Ahlan wa Sahlan to Al-Kitab but I managed learned a wealth of information from both my Fusha and dialect classes. The dialect class was especially useful |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Stephen Bush was terrific. I had the pleasure of having the head of the Arabic program, Doctor Sandy, teach my Fusha class. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Air condition, nice balcony, spacious rooms, TV, washing machine, furnished kitchen. Everything I needed and more |
| * Food: |
I had travelers' diarrhea for the first week and a half but other than that it was fine. Restaurants were very hit or miss, you had to find the right places. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Because of my skin tone, a lot of people actually started speaking Arabic to me immediately on the streets. I must add I NEVER said to any locals I was of Jewish descent. Most people very friendly and helpful. Taxis would sometimes try to rip you off but that was part of the learning experience. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never really had any medical problems so I cannot really comment. |
| * Safety: |
As a man, I never had any problems with people on the streets. The women on the hand did. Most of the problems had to do with dress and appearance. |
| 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) |
Just like America, you had find the places that were not a ripoff. Once, you found them, you were set. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Look around and just get a feel for what it |
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 |
My classes were basically all in Arabic and they included useful exercises to encourage us to think in Arabic as well |
| 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? | There was no real requirement. |
| 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? | Go out on the streets and talk to people. This might be harder for females because of the conservative social mores of Jordan. |
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? | More of the language, but I guess that was out of my hands. |
