Great opportunity! Past Review
By Evelyn Jorgenson (Northwest Arkansas Community College) - abroad from 06/01/2016 to 06/30/2016 with
NWACC: Study Abroad in Siena
It was definitely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I would have benefited from a beginning Italian class that at least included a little bit of English in order to better understand the Italian. Receiving "explanations" in Italian was of little benefit when I couldn't understand any of the explanations! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Miles Fish, the administrator, went above and beyond to establish and develop an excellent international program. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We did have the difficulty of hit-and-miss internet service and minor flooding after a heavy rain, but overall, the living arrangements were about what I had expected. |
| * Food: |
University food service was not very good, but area restaurants were wonderful. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Very enjoyable! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no health issues, but felt prepared. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Siena. |
| 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) |
The biggest concern was that the promised refund to be used for food purchases during the trip did not arrive in time. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150.00 |
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 |
Lots of encouragement to use the language, but insufficient explanation on the meanings of words and translations necessary to truly learn the language and use it effectively. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | Work with someone who knows the foreign language and is willing to give you the English translation occasionally in order to help you better understand. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | I think information provided was very helpful and useful. I can't think on anything more that I needed to know before going on this trip. |
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.' |
