Study Abroad Opened My Eyes to a Whole New World Past Review
By Jordan E (Elementary Education, Stephen F. Austin State University) for
Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA): Traveling - Student Teachers in Costa Rica
This program deffinantly opened my eyes to be mre culutrally aware. I grew up with prodominantly white americans and never really had the experience of learning about different culutes or experience a struggling ELL learner. We have talked about it many times in classes and played out many senarios, but to actually put myself in an experience were I was not the majority, I became the minority, and where I English was not the primary language was a whole new experience and has taught me what many of my future students may go throught everyday.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Our workload was very managable, we were given one or two articles to read each day in our down time and then we would discuss them after dinner each night. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our professor was very knowledgable about the country and had many great things to teach us. I learned alot and was very impressed witht the curriculum. The one thing that I was not fond of was our professor left us to fend for ourselves multiple times when we did not know where were going or how things worked in the city. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Almost everywhere we ate was delicious and that means something coming from me. I am a super picky eater, but this trip made me become more adventurous while eating, because often times I did not know what was going to be on my plate when I ordered. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We were able to see many attractions of our country while we were there. We visited numerous national parks and did things such as ziplines, beaches, and viewing waterfalls. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Before leaving we were told many times how to keep ourselves safe. At times the advice came in handy, but often times the country was very friendly and welcoming. I never really felt in danger at any point on our trip. |
| 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Our expense list was under budgeted. My biggest expense problem was the restraunts and hotels cost more than we were told and I had under budgeted for them. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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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? | Any education major would benefit from this program because all teachers are going to have ELL students and students from different culutes. Advice I would give to others is brush up on your Spanish and know where you are at all times because the professor tends to leave you to fend for yourself. |
