Under the Tuscan Sun Past Review
By Christina D (Business Administration International Business Concentration, Ithaca College) - abroad from 01/23/2012 to 05/09/2012 with
IES Abroad: Siena - IES Abroad Center
Confidence, travel experience, love from a wonderful family. Totally worthwhile
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
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? |
Homestays are the best- great way to learn about the culture |
| * Food: |
Uh, it's Italy. Everything is delicious |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Homestay helped integration |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Program assisted but it is just different being sick in another country |
| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
Budget and save- be smart about your money but it's worth it and on hard to live on your budget if you try |
| * 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? | maybe $100 or less, depends on if traveling |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | look up student deals and cheap airlines |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | 202 |
| 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? | Get a language partner or practice with a professor, or use rosetta stone |
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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| 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? |
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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? | That is was going to snow so much! Freak Tuscan weather! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
ITAL 300 |
| Course Department: | Italian |
| Instructor: | Roberta Resti |
| Instruction Language: | Italian |
| Comments: | Roberta is the best! Learned so much and had so much fun! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
