Expensive Way To Learn Just a Little Bit of Italian Past Review
By Shannon O (Spanish, Cleveland State University) for
USAC Italy: Viterbo - Intensive Italian Language, History, and the Arts
Of course I had a great time because I was in Italy. However, I had to spend so much money in order to go and I didn't learn very much (only the things I taught/practiced myself). I wish that I would've found my own school and studied abroad as an exchange student, living with a family, so that I truly could've made the most of it.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | La Universidad Internacional (Cuernavaca, Mexico) - FR, SO, JR years of college |
| 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. |
The courses had too many people in them and moved extremely slow. The only Italian that I know today is what I taught myself before I went. I was very disappointed in the program because I spent a lot of money to go there. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Even though I didn't like the program (compared to other study abroad programs), the faculty & staff was very nice. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I absolutely LOVED the girls I lived with, but I would've preferred to not live with another American because then English was the clear common language. |
| * Food: |
I wasn't able to go out much but the food we bought at the store was fine (although it was expensive). |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was able to travel a bit on my own and make the most of my experience in Viterbo. I had a good time but, because of the quality of the program, it certainly wasn't worth the money. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Way too many people in Viterbo spoke English. Beyond that, it's a very small town and we were always surrounded by the 30 other Americans that we had come with which made it very difficult to practice. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would suggest that the student look elsewhere because there are many other study abroad programs all over the world, in which students can pay a lot less money and actually be immersed in a language and culture. |
