Very cooland enjoyable, but i wish I had learned more Spanish. Past Review
By A student (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/05/2016 to 05/13/2016 with
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM): Queretaro - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was definitely worthwhile. By experiencing another culture, I learned a lot about my own. I made a lot of good friends and traveled a lot, which I greatly enjoyed.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The spanish class I took was not rigorous at all, I hoped it would be so I could learn more. |
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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? |
My host family had been doing it a while, they didn't really care about me I don't think. If I could go back and do it again, I would find roommates and live on my own. |
| * Food: |
Mexico food in general is just amazing |
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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
Because the only reason I wanted to study abroad was to learn Spanish, I think it would have been better to choose a program that was specifically for that. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Host family cooked for me, so not sure. Maybe $20 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take Uber instead of taxis, they're nicer and cheaper. Also Don buy any souvenirs until you have been there for a month or 2 and have some exposure. You may end up paying way to much. |
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? | 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? | Spanish 1 |
| 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? | Find mexican roommates. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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's very very difficult to become fluent in a language in just 4.5 months! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
