Parent Review: Cal Poly Student Deserves Better Housing Past Review
By ann L (Italian Studies, Parent Reviews of Study Abroad) - abroad from 09/01/2016 to 12/14/2016 with
USAC Italy: Viterbo - Intensive Italian Language, History, and the Arts
Italian culture and language
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
okay. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My son was in this program September-December 2016, although he himself found his way, the program administrator did nothing to help him with his housing situation. He was placed away from the other students in a high rise Italian family apartment building. It was outside the wall and most other students were within side the town itself. The young Italian man he lived with was not home most of the time and not the friendlies when there. I went to Italy and saw the building and location. We paid a lot of money for him to be in this program and hope no other students are treated this way. Shame on the administrator of this program. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My son was in this program September-December 2016, although he himself found his way, the program administrator did nothing to help him with his housing situation. He was placed away from the other students in a high rise Italian family apartment building. It was outside the wall and most other students were within side the town itself. The young Italian man he lived with was not home most of the time and not the friendlies when there. I went to Italy and saw the building and location. We paid a lot of money for him to be in this program and hope no other students are treated this way. Shame on the administrator of this program. |
| * Food: |
He loved the food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
He loved the people and the Italian culture, and so did we when we visited. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
okay |
| * Safety: |
okay, I guess. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
cannot do this .. I am a parent. He would be much more specific and look into his living arrangements. Also he would have liked to be more central in Europe. |
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) |
okay. traveling is expensive, and Italy is not central to the rest of europe. |
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 |
He spoke Italian well at the end of his semester. |
| 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? | o |
| 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? | Talk to everyone. |
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? |
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? | living arrangements |
