Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Worth it Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/01/2019 to 12/14/2019 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Irkutsk

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I think the language and culture component was the best

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?

I think they shouldn't have scared us about not making friends and just encouraged us to interact with people

* 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

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)

Food was much cheaper than in the US so that helped.

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? 200
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

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • host family
  • classes
  • independence
* What could be improved?
  • encouragement to make friends
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish i watched more local tv

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Russian Language
Course Department: language
Instructor: Evgenia
Instruction Language: russian
Comments: It was a great course
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Ecology
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: russian
Comments: I am glad that i was able to learn about the local environment
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

linguistics
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: having a class w/ russian students was important and I'm glad i did it
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Course Department:
Instructor: film and lit
Instruction Language:
Comments: I loved this class the professor was great
Credit Transfer Issues: