Complicated West African Experience Past Review
By A student (University of Rochester) - abroad from 01/22/2012 to 05/20/2012 with
CIEE: Dakar - Language & Culture
I definitely gained self confidence and learned about my comfort zone.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were on interesting topics but I did not find them to be intellectually stimulating nor difficult due to the strict lecture-based and memorization-based method of teaching. |
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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? |
Living with a host family is a complex and tricky situation that depends on both the family members and the student. I know plenty of students who did not have positive experiences or were not matched very well with their family. My own family was pleasant with me, but I would've liked more support in dealing with living with a host family. There was also so much variation across the host families that everyone was bound to have different experiences. |
| * Food: |
Receiving a stipend for those who couldn't go home for lunch and to supplement our diet was great. |
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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
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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) |
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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $25 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take advantage of free things on the weekend to stop you from doing things that cost money - free concert, exhibits, etc |
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 |
Taking classes with all American students, it was easy enough to spend the majority of the day talking only in English. Some classes were even taught in English. In addition, we also had to learn and use Wolof, which was encouraged more frequently at home. As a result, French was not stressed very much on the program. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | Advanced French II |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | Your study abroad program is a lot of what you make of it and what you put into it |
