Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I loved my time abroad in Jordan Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/31/2018 to 05/31/2018 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury In Amman

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about local Jordanian culture and also learned how to be more adaptable while traveling.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* 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:

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

I loved the program's trips and my Arabic drastically improved

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 had to buy a lot of my own food as my host family was oftentimes unwilling to serve me more.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About 15 dinar

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Advanced
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Sightseeing
  • Food
  • Meeting new people
* What could be improved?
  • Sense of local integration
  • More host family screening
  • More day-to-day variance
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That interacting with people can teach as much if not more than studying can.

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:

Advanced Modern Standard Arabic
Course Department: Arabic
Instructor: Khetam
Instruction Language: Arabic
Comments: I loved my FusHa class with Khetam, she was an amazing professor who not only helped me learn a significant amount of Arabic, but inspired me to participate.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Colloquial Arabic
Course Department: Arabic
Instructor: Nour
Instruction Language: Arabic
Comments: It was not the most challenging class, but it certainly did improve my understanding of the local dialect.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Current Issues of the Middle East
Course Department: Arabic
Instructor: Nour (sometimes combined with Khetam)
Instruction Language: Arabic
Comments: I loved the opportunity to discuss political science in Arabic, and I thoroughly enjoyed the content of the course.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Gender Issues in the Arab World
Course Department: Arabic
Instructor: Doctor Abeer
Instruction Language: Arabic/English
Comments: It was interesting subject matter, yet we would often go off onto tangents that did not directly relate to the topic at hand.
Credit Transfer Issues: No