beautiful and rewarding September 11, 2023

By (Conservation Biology, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/04/2023 to 06/10/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Florence

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
yes!

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

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

it was what i needed in my life despite the hiccups expected in any program

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100$
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? don't eat out all the time!

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

all the time

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 300
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? meet people from the host country rather than staying with people in the program

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • food
  • culture
  • beauty of florence
* What could be improved?
  • programs events
  • organization
  • better professors
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? account to stay as long as possible

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

SEMINARIO SULLE CULTURE VISIVE DELLA CONTEMPORANEITA'

Course Department: art
Instructor: Guzzetti
Instruction Language: italian
Comments: no. field trips were the best part. lectures were long and didn't give students much. prof was knowledgable. no assessments
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Dante

Course Department: Italian literature/history
Instructor: prof. Demartino
Instruction Language: italian
Comments: yes and yes! I participated very little due to the structure of the class. We were assessed through papers.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Stilistica

Course Department: Italian
Instructor: Renata Carloni
Instruction Language: Italian
Comments: Yes, yes, and yes! I participated a much as I would ave at my home institution. we were assessed through participation, papers, and worksheets
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Cibo nell'arte

Course Department: italian
Instructor: Binelli Malaguzzi
Instruction Language: italian
Comments: not really challenging. The prof was knowledgeable and field trips were the best part of the class. i did not participate as much as i would have if i were at my home inst. we were assessed through papers
Credit Transfer Issues: no