Changed my life and made me want to keep traveling Past Review
By A student (Guilford College) - abroad from 09/09/2011 to 12/09/2011 with
Italy Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
It was completely worth while in every way. I did not think I would be able to learn another language, but it came much more naturally to me that I guessed.
Personal Information
| 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. |
The Italian class was extremely easy, but I feel like the problem was not with the teacher. Many of the students did not put in effort to learn Italian and I did not get to learn as much because of how our class functioned. A few people got to leave into a more advanced class, and I would have preferred to be in a different setting with people more dedicated to the material. Tim's class was challenging, but it was the only class we ever had homework for. Art History was extremely easy but well taught. |
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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? |
I went in with expectations that I would be close with my family, but I always felt like we were just the girls living in their house who came to dinner every night rather than being part of a family. |
| * Food: |
could not be better |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * 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) |
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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | You need to bring a lot more money if you want |
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? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 3, no Italian |
| 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? | Meet people in the city who do not speak English and get to know them |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | I wish someone had encouraged me to go out more and to get to know more Italian people and that I managed my budget better |
