A semester of theory and practice, analysis and transformation! Past Review
By A student (Sociology and Anthropology., Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/24/2014 to 11/26/2014 with
Autonomous University of Social Movements: Traveling - Field Program in Social Movements
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
What I learned was more than worthwhile and it will affect what I do with the rest of my life. I learned a lot about myself and about how I can make the change I hope to see in the world. I also established relationships with people and organizations that I plan on maintaining, and that will continue to inform my education.
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
* 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? |
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* Food: |
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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
* 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) |
San Cristobal is where you spend the most money because you have buy food on the weekends. In Tlaxcala and Mexico City you only buy extra things you might want. |
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $20. |
Language
* Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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? | 310. |
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? | Come up with systems of accountability within the group of english speakers to make sure that you don't regress into speaking english all the time. For example, my group had frequent check-ins to see how well we were doing, and we explicitly banned speaking English around non-english speakers. |
Other Program Information
* 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? | I can't think of anything. |
Individual Course Reviews
Course Name/Rating: |
Mexican Social Movements |
Course Department: | Political Science |
Instructor: | Bárbara Suarez |
Instruction Language: | English |
Comments: | Yes, I was challenged and inspired. While Bárbara was our primary teacher, assigning us work every week, we also had workshops with members of social movements in Mexico. My participation was on par with Middlebury. We were assessed through weekly reaction papers. |
Credit Transfer Issues: |
Course Name/Rating: |
Modern Mexico |
Course Department: | Political Science |
Instructor: | Efraín Vargas |
Instruction Language: | Spanish |
Comments: | This class pushed both my language and conceptual skills to a new level. We had many field trips, discussions, and short written homework assignments. I participated more than in my home institution, because there were fewer people in each class. We studies the current social and political geography of the cities/countrysides we were in and how they related to larger currents shaping Mexico today. |
Credit Transfer Issues: |
Course Name/Rating: |
Mexican Culture |
Course Department: | Anthropology |
Instructor: | Edith Lopez Ovalle |
Instruction Language: | Spanish |
Comments: | This class pushed my spanish language, reading and writing skills to a new level. We had many field trips, discussions based on readings, and art projects. I participated more than in my home institution, because there were fewer people in each class. We studied the current social and cultural geography of the cities/countrysides we were in and how they related to larger currents shaping Mexico today. |
Credit Transfer Issues: |
Course Name/Rating: |
Political Economy |
Course Department: | Economics |
Instructor: | Tony Nelson |
Instruction Language: | English |
Comments: | Yes, students from all disciplines were challenged. We studied the political economy of the places we lived in, and allowed our experience to inform the theories and vice verca. My participation was on par with Middlebury. We were assessed through weekly reaction papers. |
Credit Transfer Issues: |
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