Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I left my heart in Amman! Past Review

By (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/22/2017 to 05/12/2017 with

CIEE: Amman - Arabic Language

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I got way more comfortable using Arabic casually and confidently, and was finally able to live out of Austin for a long period which improved my sense of self.

Review Photos

CIEE: Amman - Arabic Language Photo CIEE: Amman - Arabic Language Photo CIEE: Amman - Arabic Language 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.

CIEE has gone through some cuts and the Amman office is pretty clearly underfunded somewhat but the staff is awesome and makes it a good experience. Classes were pretty rigorous.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I wish I could have used Arabic a bit more with my host family but they were still really great.

* Food:

Miss it!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I'm not sure I felt "integrated" but I did get to meet locals and feel comfortable with the pace of life and at home in Amman.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any real medical issues so I'm not sure, but it seemed very professionally handled.

* Safety:

I always felt safe in Amman and Jordan at large.

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

I already miss Jordan and the people there a lot. I had a fun lifestyle, learned a lot, and improved my Arabic tenfold.

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)

I could have been more judicious and conservative with my money but I wouldn't have travelled around as much or spent as many fun nights out. Amman is expensive but the budget could be doable.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Maybe around 100 a week? Totally depended on whether there was a weekend trip or not.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If your host mom lets you use the kitchen and fridge you can cook your own food or buy cheap snacks. Don't go out and drink because it's too expensive.

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

The program staff always tried to get us to follow the language commitment but amongst students we were not as good at enforcing it.

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Arabic content course.
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? Use it casually with friends and make local friends who will let you practice. Remind host parents of language commitment. Watch tv.

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

  • 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?
  • My host family and friends
  • The fun outings and trips
  • The coursework
* What could be improved?
  • More choice in building schedule in AAL program
  • More chances to meet locals
  • More/better excursions
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how fast it would fly by, so that I could appreciate each moment more. I wish I'd been better at journaling. I wish I'd gone sooner!

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!