Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

China: The Place to BE Past Review

By (International Relations, Brigham Young University) for

CIEE: Beijing - Summer Intensive Chinese Language

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes it was worthwhile

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.

Mostly fair, no complaints

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Mostly good and helpful

* 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?

* Safety:

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? probably $40 American
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Everything will be really cheap as long as Mitt Romney doesn't get elected

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Chinese 301
Language acquisition improvement?

Yes, basically everywhere I went I used Mandarin.

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply