Crash course in how to look, talk and act Italian! Past Review

By (Mechanical Engineering., Villanova) - abroad from 01/20/2013 to 05/10/2013 with

Arcadia: Rome - Arcadia in Rome

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I made a lot of great american friends while abroad, as well as experienced what it would be like to live in a foreign country. It was a priceless experience and something I will remember forever. I highly suggest it, as it has taught me worlds more than any classroom or book could.

Review Photos

Arcadia: Rome - Arcadia in Rome Photo Arcadia: Rome - Arcadia in Rome Photo Arcadia: Rome - Arcadia in Rome Photo Arcadia: Rome - Arcadia in Rome Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Much of the class work was weighted toward the end of the semester, more specifically the last two weeks. Most of the books and materials were provided or made easily accessible.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Staff were extremely helpful in registration, organization and administration. The office organized events and sent out newsletters with local activities.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was provided in the form of apartments shared by other students in the study abroad program. This was comfortable but often seemed secluded and hindered most integration with the culture. Looking back I would have preferred a home stay or apartments with students from other countries.

* Food:

You had to cook for yourself, but grocery stores were near by and affordable. Our kitchen was rather small for 6 guys all trying to cook so we had to eat meals in waves with only 2 people cooking at a time. Pasta and paninos were staples, along with pizza from the pizza shops near by.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I rarely interacted with locals other than shopping, and only on occasions had conversations with Italians either in class or on my own time.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

A premier health center was on call as well as a near by hospital. I had to visit the health center a few times for sickness or injury and it was never a problem.

* Safety:

The only problem was the occasional pickpocket or theft. I never felt in danger or problems in the city. Students would constantly walk home in the dark with no problems.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Depending on your habits, food could cost anywhere from $60 to $150 a week. Including travel and activities I often was spending around $200 to $250 a week, but I was not traveling internationally around Europe like many of the other students.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $200 - $250
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Always cook your own food, eating at restaurants gets very expensive, very fast. Nightlife is also a huge cost if indulged in. A night out can cost between $15 - $50 on a single outing depending on location, transportation, entrance fees to clubs and drinks.

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

In many parts of Italy, outside the tourist zones, the local population speaks limited to no english so Italian was necessary when traveling and exploring the country.

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? No Italian experience
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? My class taught me a lot, but the language never sunk in until I had to communicate myself outside the class room. It became a tool and necessary rather than just information I was trying to memorize. So going outside your comfort zone and forcing yourself to use the language was the best way to really learn the language.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Location
  • Field Studies
  • Fellow Americans
* What could be improved?
  • Cultural Integration
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Class options
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? What clothes to bring to Italy to fit in with the culture. I stuck out like a 6'1" red head in a sea of 5'10" black hair, italian men. Oh, wait, that's exactly what happened.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Introductory Italian

Course Department: Language
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Italian / English
Comments: The level taught was well suited for all the students as a beginner course and taught many relevant aspects such as travel vocabulary and basic grammar. Personally, I participated very often as I had much more motivation to learn the language than if taken at home. The teaching method was different than I have experienced before in language classes as the instructors never spoke in English unless a student was completely lost.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

At Home in Rome

Course Department: History
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: My first impression of the course was that it would be that it covered lifestyle, tradition, culture and brief history of Rome. However, it quickly became apparent that the course was a much more in depth look at recent history and development of Rome. The course work was often misunderstood by the students and communication between the instructor and the students was difficult and ineffective. The course involved three graded assessments: 2 written exams and a notebook of observations and critical thought of classes.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Sustainability

Course Department: Mechanical Engineering
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The first most challenging aspect was that the professor instructing the course was stepping in for another professor for the semester and attempting to adapt presentations to a new curriculum. Every class was spent with the professor, or the assistant, reading the powerpoint (which I felt could be done at home) with little application or practice. One written essay and one exam were used to assess the course, which did not follow the provided syllabus. Instructor - student communication was very difficult, and the language barrier, inconsistency of instruction and varied classroom structure made for a difficult experience. The professor made it feel as if the class was a burden on himself, and put little effort into the course outside of the course, which led to a reflection of that same effort by the students.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Material Sciences

Course Department: Mechanical Engineering
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was severely abbreviated compared to normal courses. It started a month after other courses to line up with other courses in the Italian university, and was cut short of other courses due to maternity leave by our professor. Classes consisted of alternating classes going over theory and classes practicing application. Although classes were planned to go 3 hours twice a week, most classes lasted less than 1 hour. In comparison to the material covered at my home university, we barely covered 2 weeks of material over 2.5 months.
Credit Transfer Issues: