To mingle the voices that talk about China and the voices of the Chinese. Past Review

By (Loyola University Chicago) - abroad from 08/15/2012 to 05/20/2016 with

The Beijing Center: Semester and Full Year Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Capacity of doing a critical reflection about a Chinese reality based on a book and a critical reflection of a book based on my personal experience of China.

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.

The Beijing Center provides you with an experience of China in which you are studying the very place where you are. So it helps you to engage with a daily life in China through the intelectual tools of your study and it helps you to understand the intelectual tools by its inmersion program. It could not be more complete!

* 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:

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

When you are inmersed in an intelectual and personal experience that reshapes your previous way of looking at the world... it can be painful sometimes, but you would not change it. I've really learned a lot.

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? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Advanced Conversation
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? Write down a personal diary of your daily life in Chinese.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Field Trips
  • Chinese Classes
  • Humanistic studies on China
* What could be improved?
  • Marketing of the Center
  • More: Service Learning Courses
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I do not know.