HSK IN CHINA! Past Review
By lucky w (East Asian Studies., Institute of World Politics) - abroad from 04/04/2011 to 05/10/2011 with
Go Abroad China: GAC HSK Test Preparation Program (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi)
being in China was the best way to prepare for this exam, for which I had to learn new vocabulary and how to use the new words.
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. |
It was extremely useful! I need to prepare for HSK test and the best way to do it was to immerse in a Chinese environment, with Chinese teachers and many chances to meet Chinese people to talk! |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
GAC helped me a lot, since before the arrival till after the departure. They were always available when I needed |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was living in a host family and have my private tutor coming at home for some hours a day. I suggest everyone choose this kind of accommodation because helps a lot if you want to REALLY improve your spoken Chinese. |
| * Food: |
I prepared breakfast by myself, but only because I have my habits which I could keep there. But I had lunch and dinner with the family, so I could try REAL Chinese food, I could also try to prepare some dishes under the help of the family. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Chinese people are generally friendly and willing to speak with foreigner and many students are looking for a 'language partner' to practice the language they are studying (most of the time is English). I made some friends and with some of them I spent some time studying. It was really useful! |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Luckily, no problems |
| * Safety: |
My neighborhood was safe, I walked back late in the night alone and had no problem. My host family recommended me to keep my eyes open when I had to take the subway, where can happen to have the wallet stolen by some pickpockets, but actually never happened to me. |
| 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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Food and personal expenses: 55$/week. It depends also on how many souvenirs you want to buy! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Useful. When my lesson finished at home, I went out to continue it, speaking with people in the street and meeting with Chinese friends! |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | everything I knew about Chinese culture was actually superficial. Now I know much more about Chinese way of living, their habits, thanks to this experience |
