Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Wonderful time in Chile! Past Review

By (University of Tennessee - Knoxville) - abroad from 08/28/2018 to 12/10/2018 with

SIT Study Abroad: Chile - Cultural Identity, Social Justice, and Community Development

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained insight in understanding other cultures and their political history. My Spanish skills also improved exponentially.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes and seminars were wonderful! Very well rounded in the subject material. The course work tested my Spanish abilities but was overall very manageable!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration is very supportive and helpful! I was comfortable approaching them with any problem/ question I had.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved all of my home stay experiences!

* Food:

I made the mistake of not researching Chile's food before I arrived and the variety of flavor was not as diverse as I had hopes. It was still overall pretty good and host parents are always accommodating to likes and dislikes!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Home stays really helped immerse us in the local culture and spend time with families.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had bronchitis while I was there and had to go to the doctor. The service is very quick and the insurance reimburses all costs.

* Safety:

I lived in Vina del Mar and always felt safe, even when walking around at night with friends.

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)

All meal and transportation costs were covered as part of the program fees. Anything additional was generally very affordable

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 15

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

The program was persistent in encouraging us to practice Spanish!

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? 350
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? before arriving: Watch Netflix with Spanish subtitles, put your phone in Spanish, read news articles in Spanish. After arriving: practice Spanish even with your friends in the program!

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

  • 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?
  • Home stay
  • Excursions
* What could be improved?
  • Exposure to friends outside American classmates
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I am an engineering major so I had very little basic knowledge/ vocabulary on a lot of the topics addressed. I wish I had more political/ social justice knowledge.

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!