Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I immersed myself and distanced myself from the familiar. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/28/2016 to 05/15/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury In Amman

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Culture shapes people, but cross cultural dialogue is always possible.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There could be more academic work for the content courses. The langauge classes were great.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

No clear role distribution. Never sure who to go to for questions. That said, the team was wonderful and supportive.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The mentor program could be strengthened, but it is a good way to get students mixing with locals quickly.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

n/a

* Safety:

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

The language pledge makes this program what it is.

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 used 200 JD per month and was able to do everything I wanted without splurging too much on western luxuries.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about 50 JD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't go to Western locales and use Facebook to find free or cheap things going on in Amman instead of paying for expensive experiences designed for tourists.

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

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? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 3.5
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Use the language pledge. If you don't, you wil fail.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Language Pledge
  • Mentors
  • Trips
* What could be improved?
  • Support Systems
  • Electives
  • Availability of Staff
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Amman is a vibrant, active city, but it takes work to find things going on, and if you are not proactive about finding things to do, you may end up very bored.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Intermediate 3amia
Course Department: Languages
Instructor: Nadia Alassaf
Instruction Language: Arabic
Comments: Nadia is one of the best instructors I've ever had. Challenging, supportive, and fun. Super great class.
Credit Transfer Issues: n/a
Course Name/Rating:

Internship
Course Department: Abroad
Instructor: Kerstin Wilsch
Instruction Language: Arabic
Comments: Enough freedom to make of my internship what I wanted with enough guidance to not waste the opportunity.
Credit Transfer Issues: n/a
Course Name/Rating:

Arabic 5
Course Department: Language
Instructor: Nour Afaneh
Instruction Language: Arabic
Comments: Excellent instruction. The setup of the class took into account student interests. The project component gave students freedom to learn in the way most appropriate for them. Nour was always wonderful.
Credit Transfer Issues: n/a