What's Not to Miss? Past Review
By Olivia Myers (University of Mississippi) - abroad from 01/19/2020 to 05/05/2020 with
American Councils (ACTR): Advanced Russian Language & Area Studies Program (RLASP)
It was definitely worthwhile. I learned more about Russian mentality, and it changed the way I think about the world and people in general. I gained a new way of thinking. I feel more open-minded about the world, and I have a new sense of clarity about my plans after I graduate college.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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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? |
Yes
American Councils made sure we were safe and as comfortable as possible while we were in Russia. We had direct access to our resident director and met multiple times a week to check up on everyone. Honestly, my experience could not have been better. American Councils provides a perfect program. I was able to spend time learning Russian in small, individualized classes, and immediately apply what I learned in everyday life. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Less than $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Russia is a very cash based society, and it's easy to lose track of how much you are spending. Make sure to set a budget and write in your phone somewhere how much cash you have for the week and how much you plan to spend or have spent. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | Speak Russian as much as you can. It can be extremely exhausting at the beginning, but it only gets easier from there! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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 wish I had done more research on Moscow before I left for the program. I did not really understand how the city was set-up or how transportation worked. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
