Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I Loved my study abroad experience! Past Review

By (Howard University) - abroad from 06/07/2013 to 07/06/2013 with

INTO China - Tianjin: Nankai University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile. I gained more confidence in my Chinese ability and a greater cultural awareness. I learned a lot more Chinese as well as a lot more about myself. Traveling is awesome!

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Everything in China is really cheap!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50-$60. That is only because I spent my money largely on souvenirs. I purchased maybe only 5 meals the entire month since meals were included in the program.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't buy anything until you go to Asian Cultural Street where you can get the cheap stuff and bargain. Also, visit on a non-busy, weekday where they're more eager to sell you stuff.

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

What you learn in class, you could easily apply the next day in a real life situation outside of class i.e. going to buy something, bargaining, ordering food, asking for directions, since we were IN China and the only way to communicate is in Chinese.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Chinese III
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? You HAVE to speak it in order to learn. While I took some Chinese classes before I arrived, my listening and speaking was still very poor because the class emphasized reading or writing. In my beginner-intermediate class at INTO, my teacher pushed me to actually speak in Chinese more and largely communicated using Chinese and this greatly improved my speaking and listening ability. However, I still am a beginner because I only stayed one month, but I'm absolutely positive had I stayed the entire summer or a whole semester or school year, that I would become and advanced speaker.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Food
  • My amazing INTO mentors
  • Traveling & Sight-seeing!
* What could be improved?
  • Very structured schedule, more chill time
  • I would have liked to travel to rural areas
  • And that's about it
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Not to be so scared and nervous about traveling alone.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.