University of Haifa Hebrew Ulpan - Fun, Educational, and Recommended for Anyone! Past Review
By Brooke Gentry (Colby College) - abroad from 08/08/2016 to 09/01/2016 with
University of Haifa: Study Abroad at Haifa International School
My experience was most definitely worthwhile. Though the Ulpan was only a month and I still have the whole semester here, I feel like I already have gained more open-mindedness when it comes to other cultures and ways of living, independence and confidence from living and traveling on my own, and perseverance when it comes to my own education and advancement in the future.
Review Photos
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. |
The Hebrew Ulpan was difficult, fast-paced, and thorough - everything I expected it to be! Although I was a beginner in Hebrew before the Ulpan and thus am not fluent now, I never would have expected to learn as much as I did in a single month. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The International School Office was very helpful with everything I needed - I went to see them several times and was met with nothing but friendliness and cooperation. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorms were adequate but perhaps not as nice as I was used to. Still, I managed and frequently cooked in the dorm kitchen. For the price of living, the dorms were a bargain. |
| * Food: |
The program did not provide a meal plan so most of the students cooked (including me). This was a fun and exciting way to expose ourselves to Israeli food. Also, the University conveniently had a mini-market right across from the dorms. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The trips put on by the program's social coordinators were very helpful in giving us an idea of the local culture. Furthermore, most locals I talked to were happy to elaborate on any questions I had. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no health issues during the Ulpan. The program provided us with cheap and easy healthcare that we could extend to last as long as we needed/were in Israel. |
| * Safety: |
I never once felt unsafe in Haifa or at the University. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I had a wonderful time participating in the Hebrew Ulpan and can't wait to continue my semester at the University of Haifa in the fall! |
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) |
I was able to live fairly cheaply here. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50-$75 - depending on whether or not I did souvenir shopping |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Saving money ahead of time is annoying but makes like so much easier - do it. |
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 |
The intensive Hebrew Ulpan wasn't really about encouraging us to use the language - mainly just learning as much as we could in the little time that we had. Our teacher frequently reminded us that we needed to continue speaking Hebrew outside of class though so we didn't lose it. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| 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? | If the University offers any extra (free) help outside of class, be sure to take advantage of it (even if you don't need it). Our program offered a free short conversation class outside of regular class which was really helpful. You may as well get your money's worth and learn as much as you can while you're there. |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
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? | Though there are things I might have wished I knew before embarking, I would do the program over with the same beforehand knowledge. I don't think not knowing certain things significantly hindered or effected my experience negatively at all. If anything, I was able to learn more because of it. |
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! |
