challenging but very good if you are self reliant November 29, 2023
By Jack L (Italian, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/04/2023 to 06/30/2023 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Rome
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned self reliance, adaptability, and I am very very happy with my improvement in Italian
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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* Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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* Safety: |
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If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
My program was very small (only 1 other non-middlebury student) there was not much support, Sapienza was confusing and the program headquarters were located in Florence |
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) |
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Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $60-$100 not including all the out of country weekend trips i went on |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | do your own grocery shopping and cooking |
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 |
we signed a language pledge |
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? | intermediate 0300 level |
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? | preply tutors |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | This program is HARD, academics were not like imagined at Sapienza. They seemed more primitive and overall Italian academics were of much worse quality than Middlebury |
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: |
Italian & European Agricultural Development |
Course Department: | International politics |
Instructor: | FRANCO MARI |
Instruction Language: | italian |
Comments: | it was challenging course material. There was a field trip to a farm. The teacher was knowledgeable but I wish more practical material was discussed over theory. Several lectures was literally the professor reading stats off of ISTA. During the final exam which was oral prof mari asked me 2 questions than gave me an A+ |
Credit Transfer Issues: | idk middlebury wont let me see my transcript |
Course Name/Rating: |
Italian immigration & emigration | race & identity |
Course Department: | italian |
Instructor: | Igiaba Scego |
Instruction Language: | italian |
Comments: | it was challenging. we had many field trips and the teacher was knowledgeable. I participated more often than i would have in Vermont |
Credit Transfer Issues: | idk Middlebury wont let me see my transcript |
Course Name/Rating: |
Strategies in International Cooperation |
Course Department: | international politics |
Instructor: | Noschese & Petrovic |
Instruction Language: | italian |
Comments: | it was not challenging. The first half of the course was content that was interesting where we studied italian and european immigration issues. The second half was theory on project formulation and management and was incredibly boring. The final was on making our own made up humanitarian project and submitting a grant request. |
Credit Transfer Issues: | idk Middlebury wont let me see my transcript |
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