Life-changing experience Past Review
By A student (Foreign Languages, University of California - Riverside) - abroad from 09/16/2011 to 03/02/2012 with
ECELA: Santiago - Spanish Immersion School in Chile
I learned so much about myself-how I work and how I can communicate. I gained other views on what life is all about. I made new friends I know I will have for life. I am so much braver and more confident as a person. This experience has changed me for good and I now have a new fire for learning about different cultures and exploring the world.
Personal Information
| 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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Very nice host families. Provides a great opportunity to practice your foreign language. |
| * Food: |
Host families provide delicious authentic meals |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
School provides many outings and opportunities to immerse you in the culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Yellow fever vaccine was required for travel in South America. |
| * Safety: |
Upper Metropolitan areas posed no immediate risks for me. Smart thinking and safe traveling should prevent you from dangerous situations. |
| 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) |
4. Living with a host family, there is not much you need to survive. Lunch and laundry costs are very cheap. As long as you don't go overboard on your outings and social events money should not be stretched. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Live with a host family. Budget social outings. Pay close attention to currency exchange rates. |
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 |
When living with a host family it is almost impossible not to improve your 2nd language. Shared student living encourages an environment where you will most likely not practice the new language and lapse into poor studying skills. |
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish intermediate |
| 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? | Live with a host family. If with other students stick to the new language. Read books, watch tv, and listen to the radio in the other language. Go out and socialize with natives speaking their language. |
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? | 10+ |
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? | How important it is to immerse yourself in the culture. Homesickness should not be allowed to affect your overall experience.. |
