Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A great bang for your buck Past Review

By (Missouri State University) - abroad from 07/01/2017 to 07/29/2017 with

Mexico Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained cultural experience and language enrichment. Definitely worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This program was a great way for me to study and practice Spanish abroad. I appreciated having on-site support and structured, scheduled activities. I definitely recommend this program. However, if you prefer to be more independent and determine your own schedule, another program may be better for you.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Being with a host family is awesome because you can learn more about their culture, try authentic food, and practice your Spanish!

* 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:

Although friends and family were concerned about my safety in Mexico, I overall felt safe in Oaxaca. I still recommend taking precautions such as using a taxi to get home at night and keeping valuables in a safe location. The main issue I noticed safety-wise was simply that we were required to cross several busy streets to go to classes. The streets do not always have crosswalks and traffic lights and stop signs are few. Use caution when crossing streets.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I enjoyed this program because it was a good length (4 weeks), a nice class load (2 classes/6 credits), and an affordable price.

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)

I liked that most meals were included in the program price. I did not have to eat out very much which lowered my personal expenses. Also (as of the time I was there) many items were cheaper than their respective prices in the US.

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

Overall we were encouraged to use the language, but it was difficult at certain times to keep everything in Spanish because our group had students of varying language proficiencies. If you are very serious about not using any English abroad, you may want to consider a different program.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Practice the language with your host family. Practice the language with any local (still use caution when talking to strangers). Ask questions about grammar issues or about different word connotations. Avoid using your native language if possible. Don't be afraid to speak the foreign language - errors are okay and mean that you are learning, not that you are failing.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* 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?
  • Classes
  • Practicing Spanish
  • Cultural excursions
* What could be improved?
  • Class organization
  • Scheduling (too many events/times)
  • More focus on Spanish use
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The handbook they provide is helpful. I recommend reading it.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!