Teaching in England Gave Me the Power to Spread My Wings and Fly Past Review
By Jennifer K (Elementary Education, Illinois State University) for
University of Brighton - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned so much about myself and about teaching in a different country. I learned about the different curriculums there are that are used and learned how to teach in different ways. I now have so much more knowledge to offer. I also am much more knowledgable about people and different cultures. This experience has taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to and I am no longer afraid to travel.
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. |
Everything was done very professionally and I received a lot of great feedback right away from supervisors. I loved the school I was in and enjoyed the differences of the school curriculum I was teaching in Hailsham. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My host supervisor was excellent. She was very helpful and loved to talk with me about my future teaching career. She gave me a lot of quick feedback and was able to observe me a few times. The only negative thing is that she wasn't ever really that accessible or available. She only visited me three times and that was it. I wished I had more contact with her while I was there. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host family I was placed with. Although I knew absolutely nothing about them going into the trip. I ended up falling in love with them. They were everything I could have asked for and more. They were very supportive of me and always talked to me to make sure I was handling my schooling and being away from home okay. They took care of me when I was very sick and they were very supportive with everything I did. All of my meals were provided by my host mum and she was such a sweetheart. Had I had a different family however, I would have been responsible for my own lunches. My host mum just turned out to be super sweet and refused that I make my own lunches. They provided everything for me that I would possibly need. |
| * Food: |
The food wasn't too bad. It is a lot of bacon and ground meat and fish. Also a ton of potatos. If you are on a no starch diet you can forget it. My host mum also loved to have at least 6 vegetables with every meal we ate. That messed with my stomach for awhile but I adjusted to it pretty quickly. I did eat out a few times but not much just so I could save money. I never went to any bad restaurants. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My host supervisors took us on side field trips that we did on weekends. We visited many places but you had to pay extra for the field trips. I chose to take advantage of the opportunity and went on all of the trips. We went to Bath, Rye, London, Bodiam Castle, Paris, Warwick Castle, Stonehenge, and Stratford Upon Avon. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The host program didn't talk much about safety except for ways to stay safe while using public transportation. My host family was very safe and always made me feel right at home. They took care of me a lot while I was feeling ill. It's important to realize that you probably will get sick while studying abroad due to stress and traveling. I got a sinus infection and an ear infection. Luckly because I was a registered student through a host university I was able to receive free medical care and could go see a doctor free of charge. It cost money for the medicines and antibiotics I needed but the doctor visit was at least free since I was a student there. If you are not a student in that country then you would have to pay a lot of money to receive medical care. I think I did need to get a vaccine for my program but I honestly can't remember what I had to get. Make sure you see your doctor before traveling over seas! |
| 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 didn't spend that much on food since my host family provided a lot of my food. I did however, spend roughly $500 at least on gifts and clothes for myself and friends and family. Then I probably spent another $500 on other random items. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I am not a person that likes to spend money because I don't really have it. I lived off loans to get through college and to study abroad. I didn't expect to spend so much money on other people. Consider how many people back home will want gifts or souveniers. It adds up very quickly. Also, no matter how much you tell yourself you won't buy any clothes or personal items for yourself, it will happen. You will buy clothes and you will buy yourself fun things especially if you do side trips. So plan to spend at least an extra $500 on top of what you think you will spend. Do not be afraid to buy things that you can cherish and hold onto forever to remember your experience either. You can cry about it later when you have no money. |
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? | If you have any doubts, forget them! I never imagined myself traveling or studying abroad. I am a huge family person and couldn't imagine myself being away from them for more than a week but I did it for myself anyway and don't regret a single bit of it. I loved being out on my own and forced to grow up and become independent. I grew so much and became so much more confident in myself. You learn how to be a strong individual and you give yourself a true gift when you do studying abroad. You learn so much about yourself and the rest of the people out there in the world. There is so much we don't know until we travel away from what we are familiar with. It is worth every penny to do study abroad. The family and friends that you make while you are there make everything so worth it. |
