Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Huge language improvement and fun city with the right people. Past Review

By (Political Science and Government, Trinity University) - abroad from 01/16/2015 to 05/04/2015 with

CET Jordan

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience abroad was extremely valuable and I learned so much about wonderful Middle Eastern culture and history. I think Amman is the best place to immerse yourself in Arabic because of the dialect and location but it isn't necessarily the most exciting. Still, my time was completely worth while, Jordan itself has a lot of cool things to offer, and I wouldn't change my choice to go even if given the opportunity.

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.

Excellent for improving Arabic skills as far as speaking in dialect and vocabulary, not very intensive in grammar/Modern Standard Arabic. In spite of that, I highly recommend this program to anyone who is serious about becoming a more fluent speaker.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Extremely helpful and accommodating.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Nice apartments even though things broke easily, but I loved the vibe of living with other American and Jordanian students.

* Food:

I love Jordanian food! While there is little variety, I was not bothered by it because you are provided your own kitchen for cooking.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Integrated through the form of Jordanian roommates and language partners. I would have liked a little more cultural exposure but that is something I could have sought out myself.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Due to protests and the Middle Eastern political climate, Amman was not as safe as I think many other places would be. This being said, I will add that I generally felt safe and CET did everything they could to keeps us out of harms way.

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)

Everything is significantly cheaper than in the US.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~$20, but some other people spent closer to ~$40/ week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Have a way of keeping track of how much you spend per week just to remain conscious of it. It's really easy to spend more than you realize. I would start the week with a certain amount of money at the beginning of each week and not allow myself to take out more until the next week unless I had something important I needed to spend more on.

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

Full language pledge. English not allowed.

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Beginner
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? Force yourself to not speak English even when you really want to and you will improve incredibly.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • language immersion
  • freedom and autonomy
  • apartment style housing
* What could be improved?
  • I would've liked a trip earlier in the semester to get to know the people in my program quicker.
  • Some people were not originally pleased with their teachers in the beginning, but the staff is so accommodating that everyone was very pleased by the end.
  • I would've liked the program to show us what Amman had to offer since it took a while for a lot of us to figure those things out.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Jordan is cold in the Spring. Bring sweaters.

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.