It is what you make it Past Review
By kaitlyn.dixon2 (Music., Brigham Young University) - abroad from 07/20/2012 to 12/18/2012 with
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina: Florianópolis - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned a lot about culture and about myself. If you don't CHOOSE to get out and do what you want, you'll run out of time. Now that I understand more of the language and more about the culture, I'd be able to communicate better and not have people afraid to talk to me because they fear they won't understand me...
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Geovana was always there if we needed her and super helpful with trips to the hospital, but we didn't have much direction as to what we needed to do when we got there and it took a really long time to finish our paperwork, etc. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartment was nice, but a little far away from everything and everyone else. |
| * Food: |
We cooked, so any mishaps were our fault anyway |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
What I learned about the culture was from observation. Most of my interaction ended up being with other Americans |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
No problems if you're cautious and don't go out alone at night. |
| 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) |
Easy, if you don't count optional travel |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $40 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
it was completely up to the students. If we wanted to, we could. If not, we had ways around it. |
| 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? | 102 |
| 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? | Make native friends and use their language from the get-go. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | what to be aware of in the educational system so I'd know what to expect and how to manage what was expected of me. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
