I have been able to remove my rose coloured glasses. Past Review
By MaryBeth R (Elementary Education, Illinois State University) for
University of Brighton - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
In some ways yes, in other ways no. I felt like a lot of the experience, back in Illinois and in England, was left up to me. Most of the information wasn't clear cut, so I had to interpret my own expectations and requirements. It was horribly frustrating, but what I learned about myself through the trials was beneficial. The real plus about the program was that I got to work with two different teachers, see two different educational systems, work with two different ages, and see two very different teaching styles, instead of just working with one teacher like I would have with the traditional student teaching program.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved Pat and John, my host "parents". They made the experience so wonderful! Pat cooked delicious meals, despite my gluten-free needs, made sack lunches for me to take to school, did laundry for me, cleaned our sheets/towels/room frequently, etc; she was much more helpful and lovely than I ever could have dreamed of! She and John welcomed me into the family without reservation! We had wonderful conversations on our differences, played games, went for walks and drives, laughed and joked, and acted like a real family; it was delightful! I really do miss them now that I am back with my real family! The neighborhood was very nice, quiet, safe, and a short walk from the train station. I really didn't need to buy anything to settle in. I brought toiletries I needed, but even so, Pat had some I could have used had I not; she even had a pay-as-you-go phone that we could use while we were abroad! |
| * Food: |
I need a gluten-free diet, and the Honisett's went over and beyond my expectations. I never ever went hungry, and everything I ate was delicious! I liked the food much better than what I eat here at home! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Went on university of Brighton organized field trips to Paris and Bath that were wonderful. They had an outline and schedule, but they also allowed freedom to come and go as you pleased. Also was able to experience Bon Fire Night (Nov 5), a true English tradition, which was AWESOME; seeing all the bon fires, hot dogs, fireworks, tons of peoples, and Guy Fawkes replicas burned was magnificent! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Eastbourne and Cuckfield were both so safe! I never felt scared for my safety at all! Where my host family lived in Eastbourne (Hampden Park) was very quiet and residential. I always felt very safe. No vaccinations. Clean water. No health concerns. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I honestly wouldn't have had to spend any money on weekdays if I didn't want to. All my meals were provided by the host family, and transportation costs were reimbursed to me by the host university. Really, the only money I spent was on the weekends when we traveled, buying souvenirs and gifts, and buying groceries to cook my host family dinner, and all those things were optional. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | KEEP A LIST of how much you spend. Keep track where you spend your cash. AND calculate how much something costs when you consider the conversion rate! I got into trouble because after about a month I stopped writing down what I put on the credit card, what I bought, and where I spent my cash! My money seemed to disappear because I wasn't keeping a close eye on where I spent my money and how much it costs when I figured in the conversion rate of about 1.6 British pounds to 1 US dollar. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It is a nice break from the crazy pace of the first half of student teaching back in Illinois. It is awesome to see the creative learning/teaching system in place; we learn about it at ISU, but don't really have the opportunity to use it in its full glory in the US's educational system. You will have the opportunity to learn so much about the real English culture, not the ones perceived in movies or books; so take it- live the life of an Englishman for a while. You will see that they aren't that terribly different from an American (except for that fab accent, but they think yours is awesome too). |
