Shanghai: a Case Study Past Review
By David T (Pre-Pharmacy, University of the Pacific) for
IES Abroad: Shanghai - Economy, Business & Society
The good aspects of the program for me was being in the highest level Mandarin class of the program, the field trip to Taiwan, the internship placement, and my homestay family. What made me decide not to choose the same program is that I would want to be in a different city for study abroad. Shanghai's modernization has made it lose much of its culture, so I would rather go to a different city which has preserved more of the culture.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | N/A |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My Mandarin class was very different from all other classes I have taken. Since I was in the highest level, we talked about philosophy in Mandarin, making this class amazing. The workload was manageable, and there was not much difference from the America educational system in the classes I have taken. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was fairly effective and was generally available for help and advice. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The family I lived with is very caring. The neighborhood is also very safe and is across the street from a shopping center with Walmart from which students can purchase what they need. |
| * Food: |
I lived with a local family, so they prepared breakfast and dinner for me. There are some food stands near the international students center which serve food for people on a budget. Food in Wanda Plaza is a little more expensive. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There is a week-long field trip to Taipei in the Fall program. It was exciting to see another major city in East Asia and see how similar or different it is to Shanghai. I remember that the most interesting lecture is about cultural cleavages in Taiwan. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The most common type of crime in Shanghai is pickpocketing or scams. Violent crimes such as murder or rape are very rare there. When I had health issues, I went to the Shanghai United Family Hospital, which serves mainly foreigners. I chose this hospital because many doctors are from North America or Europe. In addition, I did not need to pay upfront or wait for my insurance to reimburse me because Shanghai United Family Hospital lets me charge to my insurance directly. On the other hand, hospitals for locals in Shanghai require patients to pay immediately in cash before treatment. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I had a homestay, so I paid mainly for lunch or transportation. I probably spent at most 250 RMB (about 40 US dollars) per week. The meals I had at the restaurants I chose were around 15-37 RMB, but there are some places that are a little cheaper depending on what you get. If you do not live in a homestay, you will need to spend more money to get breakfast and dinner. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I did not have any unanticipated expenses. Homestay would be a cheaper option for me since families are required to provide you two meals a day. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Advanced Chinese |
| 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 homestay family, the IES staff, teachers, and locals when order food. |
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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* Who did you take classes 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? | The IES program in Fudan is designed for Chinese studies majors, business majors, and political science majors. The highest level Mandarin class in this program is a highlight for me because it focuses on applying everything you have learned about Mandarin so that you speak it completely. On the other hand, I have heard that the intermediate class was disappointing because it was too much review of beginning Mandarin. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Internship Seminar |
| Course Department: | IN 395 |
| Instructor: | Yu |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | The teacher was knowledgeable, but she read off her powerpoint most of the time. When she makes a comment that is not in the powerpoint, I notice that she is more interested in the topic. The class was helpful in getting work experience. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
| Course Name/Rating: |
The Chinese Metropolis: Shanghai in a Comparative Context |
| Course Department: | AS/US 350 |
| Instructor: | Yu |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | The class focuses on the modern history of Shanghai and what it is today. There were a few fieldtrips, and the highlight was the one-week fieldtrip to Taipei in the Fall semester |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Advanced Chinese |
| Course Department: | CN 401 |
| Instructor: | Cao |
| Instruction Language: | Mandarin |
| Comments: | This course challenged me to speak completely in Mandarin. This is a small class which allowed me apply everything I have ever learned in Mandarin. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Introduction to Classic Chinese Philosophy and Religion |
| Course Department: | PS/AL/RS 120 |
| Instructor: | Cao |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This course was focused mostly on Buddhism, but Daoism and Confucianism are introduced later in the semester. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
