INTO China gave me an amazing experience! Past Review
By Jason G (business, Oregon State University) for
INTO China - Tianjin: Nankai University
Yes, it was amazing. I just wish I could've stayed longer. I thought about pursuing a Chinese minor but my business classes overlapped and I had to choose which was more important to my career. But I am still reading and studying some Mandarin with the books I have.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The teaching system seemed very well organized and strict. It was very different but I enjoyed it because I feel more focused rather than the teaching methods used in the u.s. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I honestly did not use many of the services there but I got a lot of studying and traveling done. It was the perfect blend and amazingly organized well. The program size had 5 groups and I was in the last group. My expectations were definitely met and surpassed beyond my imagination, I loved it. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It allowed me to improve speaking Mandarin because the maintenance man and everyone around the building were natives. Inside the building were international students but because the dorm was so close to everything, we had convenient access to real world practices of Mandarin on the natives. It was very safe and class was a 5 minute walk. I did not buy cookware because I ate out but my friend did and he enjoyed it. |
| * Food: |
The food was decent but a lot of my friends did not enjoy the canteen food because of the lack of variety and the msg but I enjoyed it. I just wish there was more variety but the access to have food just like that by signing a paper was great! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I became good friends with the shop keeper near by and their whole family. They treated me like a family member, took me around, and everything. That was very memorable and I enjoyed it a lot. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I'm not sure about healthcare but the program mentors were always there caring for people. They were always worried and on top of things so if we had any injuries, they'd be there immediately. |
| 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I improved dramatically, I could converse within a month but that is because I was communicating with the natives all day and night. |
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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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? | Definitely participate in this program because it is an amazing trip and worth it. Being able to travel, enjoy great dinners, socialize, learn mandarin in their native country, see the people and events; what more can you ask for in a program? |
