It was not at all what I expected, but I will always treasure my time in Milan. Past Review
By A student (International and Global Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/13/2014 to 05/16/2014 with
IES Abroad: Milan - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
It was definitely worthwhile and gave me new insight into my own Italian heritage. I learned to be more adventurous and to seize advantage of opportunities- life is to short to second guess ourselves. Before studying abroad, I had always dreamed of traveling but had never had the opportunity to do so. Boarding that plane alone and arriving in Europe was exhilarating, but I realized how easy it is to develop a comfortable routine in a new place to the point where it feels like a second home.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were not particularly difficult, but there was plenty of assignments to stay on top of during the course of the semester. Our communications class went on a field trip to an advertising agency in Milan, which was an awesome experience. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I loved the majority of the staff and thought they were helpful in advocating on behalf of the students. I do think the orientation program should be shortened however to allow students to jump into classes sooner. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I really enjoyed the apartment I was placed in, as the amenities were far nicer than I expected and it was very close to the metro station. I think they could have done a better job matching roommates according to interests, but that is understandably difficult at times. |
| * Food: |
The food was not the traditional Italian food of the south, but rather consisted of a lot of heavy meals like pasta and pizza. It was tasty, but Milan definitely has a more northern European food selection than the south of Italy! |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I think the majority of students formed an American bubble, and it was hard to meet other Italians when taking classes only at the IES center. It was amazing to experience the fashion industry up close however. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I actually never had a need for the health center, but I know there was facility other students used. |
| * Safety: |
As a major industrialized city, I do not think there were any particular safety concerns. However, also as with any major city, students should be careful of pickpocketers and should not travel alone at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
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) |
I spent around $60 on food a week and paid for the subway by month. The subway in Milan is actually a lot cheaper than in other areas of Europe. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $60/food a week $20-30/week social nights (bars, etc) (transportation as by month) |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would say students should be smart about their grocery shopping and also about dining out. Clubbing is extremely expensive in Milan, and the metro only runs until around midnight so cabs are expensive as well. Even a one euro coffee starts to add up! Keep track of the amount of money you are spending on food so that you have enough to travel and last until the end of the semester. |
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 |
The program required one Italian language course, although students had the option of taking additional courses in Italian. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | Italian 110 |
| 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? | I would say it helps to listen to music in italian and to watch Italian television programs. It is not always feasible to have conversations in Italian since you might not have others to speak with, but just getting used to the sound of the language and picking up on various "slang" words helps. |
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 |
|
| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
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? | I wish I had known to book all of my trips as soon as possible so that I could get the cheapest prices on airline tickets and make it to all of my destinations on my wish list! |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The NetworkerAn active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Italian 351 |
| Course Department: | Italian |
| Instructor: | Silvia Francalanza |
| Instruction Language: | Italian |
| Comments: | I was not a fan of the professor's teaching style and personally feel that my Italian skills only improved minimally. At times I thought the professor was rude to students, I do not know if she was aware of this or not. She did take us on field trips to an Italian high school and to a church nearby, as well as art galleries etc. She assessed us through exams, homework assignments, and presentations, although the exams were difficult at times and did not seem to correlate well to things we learned in class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I have had no issues transferring credits so far |
