Student Teaching in Liverpool: Teaching Took Over My Life. Past Review
By Leah B (Special Education, Hope College) for
Study Abroad Programs in England
I would have liked to experience the culture instead of being stuck in a classroom for 45+ hours a week and doing lesson plans on the weekends. I would and should have done it before I was stuck student teaching in my major.
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. |
I was never really able to understand the grading system of how my classes would transfer back to Hope College in Michigan. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Strengths- placing me in a welcoming school. Weaknesses- we were never told, we would be takign classes on top of our teaching, we were never told that all cafeterias would be closed on the weekends and we were left stranded the day we came to Liverpool (noone was there to meet us or show us areound or tell us everything would be closed). |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Nothing was given to us which we were unaware of. We had to buy sheets, blankets and pillows. We were also never told we would be with first year studets who would all be out until 4 partying while we needed to be up at 6 to teach. |
| * Food: |
Other than the fact we have turkey and brussel sprouts 5 days in a row our last wee here, there was a variety of meats. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
A variety of trips were planned but since I was teaching every day I was unable to participate in any. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
it was safe and cameras and security were on call 24/7 |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I'm not sure but more than expected since there was no food on the weekends. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Bus travel passes, $450 visa requirement. |
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?
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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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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