Amazing Past Review
By jim.labbe (HISTORY., Portland State University) - abroad from 06/13/2014 to 08/12/2014 with
American Councils (ACTR): Advanced Russian Language & Area Studies Program (RLASP)
Intense and intimate cultural exposure to life in Russia.
Personal Information
| 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. |
Very rigorous. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Solid. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I did a home stay. It was outstanding. |
| * Food: |
Excellent. I may have been lucky with a host mother who was quite the culinary. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
As good as it could have been given my Russian and the short time I was there. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have a problem. |
| * Safety: |
Very safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Fine |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 200 |
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 |
A lot |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | 1.5 years |
| 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? | Go to Vladimir. It was full immersion. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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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? | I probably should have had a solid 2 years of Russian under my belt. I struggled but it was good. |
