Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I wish Arabic were easier. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/26/2016 to 05/19/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury In Rabat, Morocco

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I feel that I learned a lot, I got to live in a foreign country on my own, I got to travel, I met a lot of different people. It was worthwhile, though I wonder if it would have been better to only do a semester instead of two since the second felt very repetitive.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

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:

My first semester the family did not give us, me and my roommate, enough food which led to me losing a lot of weight. My second semester I was able to live on my own and the situation was much different.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Sadly, I don't feel as though I integrated at all. I did learn a lot about Moroccan culture but always as an spectator. It had a lot to do with my personality and my choices while I was away.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had my wisdom teeth removed and Achraf was great about finding a doctor and driving me whenever I needed to, to get x-ray scans and to the doctor.

* Safety:

I am a guy, and I was told I looked Moroccan, so I was mostly ignored.

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

I did learn a lot, I got to live in a foreign country on my own, I got to travel, I met a lot of different people.

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 spent around 100 dollars a week, more during the Fall semester since I traveled and went out more.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100-150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? In my case I had to eat out regularly my Fall semester because the food at home wasn't enough. Spring semester I lived on my own, and I felt that living on a budget in Morocco is very easy, even while eating at restaurants every week.

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

It was mandatory

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
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? 203?
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? First I only followed the pledge strictly Fall semester, Spring semester I did not follow the pledge outside of the Language Center. I don't think there is a clear solution to implement the pledge because while it sometimes feels like too much it's also an important part of learning.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people
  • The country
  • The fact that I learned Arabic which is what I was looking for
* What could be improved?
  • The organization of the program
  • The classes
  • The integration of the foreign students with the locals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I will probably never be fluent in Arabic.

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 Linguist
You 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:

MSA
Course Department: Arabic
Instructor: Najat
Instruction Language: Arabic
Comments: Similar to Middlebury language classes in some ways. Started out too challenging but the professor adjusted the workload as the semester went on.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

MCA (Darija)
Course Department: Arabic
Instructor: Jawad
Instruction Language: Darija
Comments: Fun class, didn't learn a lot. The darija class Spring semester was a lot more useful.
Credit Transfer Issues: