I Had A Blast at Middlebury in Beijing July 30, 2025
By Sadie S (Chinese, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/12/2025 to 05/31/2025 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Beijing
As a Chinese American adoptee, it was so meaningful to return to China and learn more about my birth culture
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload of each class is fairly large and difficult to get the hang of at first. But after a few weeks, I was already in the swing of things and better understood how to use my time and study most efficiently and effectively. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Program administrators were genuinely kind and caring. They helped me a lot with academic and personal challenges. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved having a roommate from the host university. We became close friends and still keep in contact. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
By the end, I felt very integrated with the local culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Beijing felt so safe! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 400 level Classical Chinese |
| 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? | Stick to the language pledge! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It is especially hard for those of Chinese descent or ethnicity because Chinese people will assume your nationality is Chinese and you speak fluently, which can lead to awkward situations |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Experience Beijing |
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| Instruction Language: | Chinese |
| Comments: | Really valuable class, I really enjoyed getting out of the classroom to explore Beijing |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
