Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Italy was a semster that became 'La Bel Paese' experience of a life time! Past Review

By (Management Information Systems, Villanova University) - abroad from 01/11/2013 to 05/18/2013 with

Villanova University: Urbino - Italian Language & Culture Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a little about the dynamic of people in my group. I learned the language and appreciated the cultural experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Host program administration was excellent and very helpful. Dr. Peter Cullen was always on top of things and offered his helped not only administratively but also personally.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was in a great location and offered us, as students, space to have fun and study. At times, it was inconvenient but it turned out to be great rooms for every single student. Our own showers and personal space enabled us to have a very comfortable experience in our dorms.

* Food:

Food was very much the same for lunch and dinner. But outings to restaurants and bars enabled us to eat different types of meals from day to day.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The city, our dorms, the nightlife, and just everything that Urbino, Italy, offered us have us the opportunity to have social and cultural integration. Not many people spoke English in our host city, which gave students the opportunity to meet new people in a different language. I felt very much alive to practice the language and become even more social throughout this great little city!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Not a lot of health issues became present, but when they did they were taken care of by a health office in the dorms and others by Dr. Peter Cullen. But inconvenience did become present when one student needed to go to the hospital for a continuous soar throat, and their was a language barrier. But all was taken care of!

* Safety:

Safety was not an issue after getting acquainted with the city but at first one can feel threaten by the nightlife and mere strangers in the street. Other than that we were always looked after and taken care of.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

At the beginning of the week, their was a need to spend a little more money that expected, but afterwards spending became less of an issue unless their was the need to have fun throughout the night and go out. Expenses were not that big of a deal, but administrating funds became a hassle at the end peak of the trip.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 50-100 euros; every other week no expenses were incurred
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to not go out as much and save money for trips throughout the host country rather than continuous nightlife activities.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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? Intermediate
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? Do not stick to the people in your group go out and meet people and practice the language. Do not be shy! People enjoy helping you out and never feel threaten. Practice with the people in your group if they are as encouraging in learning the language as one is but always practice and throw words around.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Learning Italian
  • Understanding group dynamic
  • Cultural experience
* What could be improved?
  • Living arrangements between students in the group
  • Emphasis on class and better teachers
  • A little more trips throughout the country with Villanova group
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I feel that going into the program with a predisposition mentality would affect the experience so I would not change knowing anything before going. But I would change personal decisions in various ways!

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Global Political Economy
Course Department:
Instructor: Paolo Seri
Instruction Language: English/Italian
Comments: The course was challenging not in course material but in the proficiency of the professor teaching the class. His teaching style was very slow paced and his speaking style created a language barrier. The class was not administered properly and even when challenges were incited the professor did not reciprocate.
Credit Transfer Issues: None, except that this is more of an upper level economics class according to what was described in the class description and syllabus. Credit for 'Economics of Globalisation' should be the credit acquired rather than Global Political Economy.