Go to Salvador Past Review
By Danielle C (Global Studies, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities) for
CIEE: Salvador - Summer Intensive Language and Culture
Yes, I learned that I can adapt to any surroundings.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidade Federal da Bahia |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was the same as my home university and classes were given in a similar lecture style in Portuguese. I feel that the grading system wasn't very much different than the American grading system. However, this program was only offered to CIEE students, not native Brazilian students. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program did a great job of introducing us to Bahian culture and provided us with excellent academic opportunities. However, the administration could have made us feel more safe by picking us up and bringing us to places where we were supposed to meet. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Take advantage of your host family's cooking. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Praia do Forte |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Salvador is not a safe city for young women. The program did all that it could, but I still never felt 100% safe outside of the apartment where I stayed or outside of the university campus. |
| 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced the language with my host mom and professors. Most of the native Brazilians in Salvador did not speak proficient English. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Be totally open to new experiences. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Contemporary Brazil |
| Course Department: | BRAZ 3101 |
| Instructor: | Jeferson Bacelar |
| Instruction Language: | Portuguese |
| Comments: | This course was challenging because all lectures were in Portuguese. The professor has a different Brazilian accent from which I am accustomed to, so I enjoyed diversifying my knowledge of different accents of Portuguese. The professor was always well prepared with PowerPoint presentations and engaged the class with his passion for Brazilian culture and his hometown of Salvador. I participated in the class about the same as I would have in my home institution. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No, but make sure that you work on transferring credits immediately upon your return. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Intensive Intermediate Portuguese I |
| Course Department: | PORT 2101 |
| Instructor: | Marcelo Custodio |
| Instruction Language: | Portuguese |
| Comments: | This course was very challenging as it was taught at a very rapid pace. It was heavily grammar intensive. It made great use of the location and offered fun and informative field trips. The teacher was knowledgeable and well prepared and designed the class in a manner to teach Portuguese to foreigners while speaking no English. I participated about the same in the class as in my home institution. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No. |
