Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An interesting Chinese cultural experience Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/01/2016 to 12/16/2016 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Beijing

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Definitely worthwhile although challenging, but I learned a lot about myself and a lot about Chinese culture, and the dynamics of modern China.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

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? No

I wish I had chosen a program more focused on content, less focused on language acquisition.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about $120 a week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Be frugal, wary of rip-offs, know how to bargain, split cab fare with other people if need to take a cab, buy street food.

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? Completed 3rd year Chinese
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* 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?
  • Fellow students
  • My roomate
  • The Teachers
* What could be improved?
  • The cultural immersion
  • Less focus on language pledge
  • More interesting classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That Beijing would be a challenging city to live in.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Contemporary Issues in China
Course Department: Chinese
Instructor: Wang
Instruction Language: Chinese
Comments: Very interesting class, teacher very knowledgable and prepared. Not overly challenging, but rewarding. No field trips. The homework was often to investigate social issues in China, and then this information was shared and discussed with the class, and compared with life in the US. I participated in class much more than at home institution. Homework for every class, every 2 weeks a small test, 2 exams throughout semester.
Credit Transfer Issues: Did not transfer credit.
Course Name/Rating:

Business Chinese
Course Department: Chinese
Instructor: Wang
Instruction Language: Chinese
Comments: Teacher very knowledgable and extremely well-prepared. Not overly challenging, but gained lots of knowledge on the history of consumerism in modern China, not as much focus on Business language. No field trips. The homework was often to prepare a presentation about any topics related to China and economics, and then present to the class and discuss with the other students. I participated in class much more than at home institution, since it was 3 people. Homework for every class, every 2 weeks a small test, 2 exams throughout semester.
Credit Transfer Issues: Did not transfer credit.
Course Name/Rating:

Experience Beijing
Course Department: Chinese
Instructor: 3 instructors
Instruction Language: Chinese
Comments: Class somewhat challenging, most difficult but rewarding aspect was writing an essay each week in Chinese about the places we visited on field trips. Teachers knowledgeable and well-prepared, and I participated more than at home institution. We had presentations every week that weren't graded, homework and quizzes in class, and papers. Final project was a movie.
Credit Transfer Issues: Did not transfer.
Course Name/Rating:

One-on-One
Course Department: Chinese
Instructor: Graduate student
Instruction Language: Chinese
Comments: Rather challenging, readings on topic of my choosing (women in China) usually were somewhat difficult. One relevant field trip. Teacher knowledgeable and well-prepared. I participated a lot since it was a one-on-one class. Assessed through homework, quizzes, presentations, and essays.
Credit Transfer Issues: Did not transfer credit.