Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

CIEE Cape Town- Arts & Sciences UCT Past Review

By (Political Science and Government., Middlebury College) for

CIEE: Cape Town - Arts and Sciences

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Expanded my familiarity with foreign cultures. Made me feel more mature, more independent, more confident to travel.

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.

Workload was not heavy, grading system is very confusing and professors are not as accessible to discuss grades etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

CIEE was amazing at facilitating orientation. Academic and social occasions were offered for students and within a week we felt well aquatinted with each other and with the area in which we were living. There were always staff members available at the office to sort out an issues with mail, housing, classes etc. RAs were present in the houses to help with other logistical issues like directions, ideas of things to do, etc.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a house with 11 other students.

* Food:

Good food, a lot of meat

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Garden Route road trip

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Cape Town is very dangerous. Common sense and big-group travel is necessary.

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

Difficult to practice Afrikaans outside of class as everyone speaks English.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Freedom to travel
* What could be improved?
  • Class selection
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Travel every weekend

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

South African Political Thought and Traditions
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was an upper level political theory class. It was very interesting but taught through a reader and the lectures were a bit dry and summary-oriented. Did not have to do the reading if you went to class and conversely, did not have to go to class if you did the reading. We had weekly paper assignments, 2 big papers, and a final exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Race, Class and Gender
Course Department: SOC
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was not challenging. One of the most interesting courses offered. Very good at integrating daily life and observations that students will see as they live and travel around South Africa. Good mix of study abroad students and South African students who are not shy to offer their opinions on the discussion topics of inequality and subjugation etc.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

African Dance
Course Department: Dance Department
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: THe course was an intro dance course only available to study-abroad students. It offered exposure to different types of African Dance and more technically discussed the ways in which South African political change has influenced and shaped dance.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Afrikaans Intensive A
Course Department: Language
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Afrikaans and English
Comments: The course was a bit challenging just because it was an unfamiliar language but the instructors are good.
Credit Transfer Issues: