Life-Changing, Eye-Opening Experience Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I give the stars because my language skills improved immensely throughout the program, a huge part of which was the academic progress. However, the amount of homework required for the classes was extensive. The goal of study abroad is to experience a new culture and it's kind of hard to do that if there are 3-4 hours of work to be done on a daily basis.

On-site administration of your program

The whole team on this program was phenomenal. They constantly do their best to make sure everything is as organized and clear as possible. They also check in frequently to make sure students are doing well academically, in their host families, extra-curriculars, etc. They clearly care about their students and their educations.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family could not have been better. The program clearly does a great job of pairing students with families based on their applications and interests. I had everything I ever wanted in a host family and none of what I specifically didn't want.

This depends on the family each student gets. I had no major issues with the food in my family.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt extremely well-integrated; however, I think a lot of that had to do with my own willingness to branch out, get involved, meet new people, try new things, etc. A student in this program who is not as eager to do these things will get good exposure to the culture, but will not be fully integrated.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare was very easily accessible and my program administrators were instrumental in making sure I found what I needed and felt comfortable there. An administrator even accompanied me to my first appointment after offering to do so. They also followed up with me and the healthcare provider about my wellbeing.

Safety in Amman is just like safety in any other city: be vigilant and you will most-likely be fine. It's better to opt for Uber or Kareem at night rather than taxis, especially for women. Also, being alone at night in general, as in any other location, is not a good idea. Traveling in pairs/packs and being smart about how you conduct yourself will probably result in a fine experience.

This whole experience changed my life for the better and led me to future plans to live and work in the region.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

The budget Middlebury lists for students in this program is extremely rough and varies per student based on the location of their host family, ability to get home for meals/bring meals from home to school and extra-curriculars, etc. I spent far more money on a regular basis on things like food and transportation to the university than I had anticipated. Other students also spent much less than I did due to their proximity to the university, availability of public transportation (or lack thereof), etc.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

We all signed a language pledge at the beginning of the semester, so we were required to speak the language constantly.

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• Host Family

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• Americans
• Host Family

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• Americans
• International Students

• Language Pledge
• Support of Administrators
• Opportunities to Get Involved in the Community

• Budgeting
• Amount of Homework
• More Excursions

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