Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I feel like I found a second home in Ecuador. June 22, 2022

By (Anthropology, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/05/2021 to 12/17/2021 with

SIT Study Abroad: Ecuador - Development, Politics and Languages

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile. I learned how important it is for me to engage in cultural exchange in order to complete work that is meaningful to me,

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

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:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I was in a safe suburb of Quito--we spent very little time actually in the city of Quito.

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

It was incredible. The Academic Director understood how to balance academics with cultural immersion, allowing students to adjust and explore on their own outside of class, which in the end promoted better engagement with class material.

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)

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

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?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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?
  • Friends
  • Natural beauty of landscapes
* What could be improved?
  • More timely feedback on assignments
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Learning is more than just in-class experience. Experiential learning is key for my personal growth.

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Languages in Contact: Spanish, Quichua, and Other Languages in Ecuador
Course Department:
Instructor: Fabián Espinosa
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The professor is well-versed in Quichua as a language and culture. Taking an introductory course in Quichua was especially enlightening and allowed us to better engage with the content. I was able to participate even more than at Middlebury because we were a class of just 13 students. We were assessed with a final paper discussing the plausibility of a true intercultural paradigm in Ecuador.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Paradigms of Development and Political Discourse in Ecuador
Course Department:
Instructor: Fabían Espinosa
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: We got to engage with various lecturers that work within different political paradigms. The assessment involved a short-answer quiz, a short essay, and reflections on each lecture.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Spanish for the Social Sciences
Course Department:
Instructor: María Tibanlombo
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It provided a good Spanish review. We had engaging debates traditional/western medicine, immigration, etc. in which we practiced social science vocabulary.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Research Methods and Ethics
Course Department:
Instructor: Fabián Espinosa
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The approach to this class was very useful. We had periodic assignments in which we were given a research question and asked to interview locals about the given topic and then analyze their responses. This class nicely built up to the ISP.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Independent Study Project
Course Department:
Instructor: Fabián Espinosa
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The ISP was a unique experience in which we were able to practice fieldwork and ethnography. After the Research Methods class, I felt prepared. This course will be used towards my senior work at Midd.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.