Being a "Gringo" for 5 Months Is Definitely Worth Trying Past Review

By (Accounting and Related Services., Villanova University) - abroad from 07/18/2012 to 12/14/2012 with

CIEE: Santiago - Business + Culture

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Learned to be more independent and calm under pressure during my experience abroad. Definitely worthwhile. Tourism is still very much a developing industry in Chile and to travel around the country is an experience that will help you mature greatly.

Review Photos

CIEE: Santiago - Business + Culture Photo CIEE: Santiago - Business + Culture Photo CIEE: Santiago - Business + Culture Photo CIEE: Santiago - Business + Culture Photo CIEE: Santiago - Business + Culture 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.

Classes weren't too difficult but professors could use improved English speaking skills. Not much homework (mostly reading) but grading system is unclear often due to grading being done often by ayudantes (assistants to professors). Lack of feedback on papers especially at local university. CIEE Spanish language classes were better but teachers did not take suggestions very seriously in terms of changing course content.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

CIEE gave 2 great field trips during long weekends and had other cultural activities throughout the semester. Helped in course registration and first few days becoming acclimated to Santiago.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Given own room with host family with bed, closet, desk, and night table. More than enough blankets were provided given Chile's lack of indoor heating. Housing was a bit far from university though (15 minute walk to train station, 25-30 minutes on the metro).

* Food:

Host mother was very accomodating to my vegetarian diet but tended to repeat recipes a lot. You will probably be tired of bread and avocado by the time you get back to your home country.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Very integrated thanks to interaction with host family, other CIEE students, locals at universities, and other foreign students from Europe.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

CIEE provided 3 good hospitals if health issues arose. I did not need to use any health care services while I was abroad. Health care is cheaper though in Chile than in the U.S. No vaccines needed for the program and issues such as animal rabies were nonexistent. Smog in Santiago during the winter did make me cough though a little.

* Safety:

City was very safe if you followed CIEE's general guidelines (don't have large amounts of money out in the open, take cabs home late at night, stay with others when travelling). Don't speak loud in English so you don't attract attention to yourself.

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)

Only costs were for travel to other parts of Chile and Latin America and also travel on metro. Generally cost about $3-5 a day to use metro. Meals provided as part of stay with host family, as is housing. Meals and housing cost less than a semester at Villanova would have.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50-$75
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to get student metro card if possible and use host family meals often. Food is generally cheap though in Chile, especially produce and street food. Metro more expensive at rush hours and buses (micros) are only a bit cheaper but stop more frequently.

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

Most CIEE e-mails were sent in English but some were in Spanish. Using Spanish with host family was encouraged greatly but workshops with CIEE used English so students could express thoughts and concerns more easily. Chile is definitely a country where English is not common so it is a good country to practice Spanish in.

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? Intermediate Spanish II
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? Make sure to speak with host family and ask locals questions if you need to. Try to make Chilean friends (although most Chileans, especially teenagers, speak very fast Spanish and use a lot of lingo)

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

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Host Family
  • Field Trips by CIEE
  • Travelling around Latin America
* What could be improved?
  • More Cultural Activities
  • More Interaction with Local Students
  • Better Food
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Know that Latin America is not like Europe. If all you want to do while studying abroad is party, go to Europe. If you're looking for a more complex and possibly more rewarding experience, study abroad somewhere in Latin America. Cultural differences are noticeable right away. Be prepared for some culture shock and some resentment towards Americans (the CIA did help bring Pinochet into power after all). History of Chile is generally a touchy subject. Not as religious a country as some people think.

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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Advanced Spanish

Course Department: Universidad Catolica Spanish Department
Instructor: Mara Rementeria
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Course was challenging grammatically. No field trips were offered. Class took place Tuesdays and Thursdays in 2 different rooms. Class was structured 2/3s writing, grammar, and culture and 1/3 debate/discussion about current topics. Teachers were well-prepared and knowledgeable but not adaptable in course content. Participated a lot and did all homework assignments. Assessed on 3 papers (2-3 pages each), a final exam (grammar only), a debate presentation, and class participation.
Credit Transfer Issues: No issues transferring credit. Counted as advanced Spanish grammar course at Villanova University.
Course Name/Rating:

Intensive Spanish for Students of Business

Course Department: CIEE
Instructor: Paola Lazcano
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Course wasn't very challenging but very enjoyable. Tended to focus on grammar a bit too much but professor was very engaging and knew a lot about Chilean culture. 3 field trips (cemetery, stock exchange, central market) and took place in CIEE offices. Teacher was generally well-prepared. Wished it focused more on business-related needs for Spanish students (vocabulary, writing letters, formality, etc.) Participated a lot (only 4 students in class). Assessed on 2 blog entries, 2 oral presentations, class participation, and 3 exams.
Credit Transfer Issues: Transferred as a Spanish "Topics in International Relations" to Villanova University. Have to find out whether it will count as advanced or intermediate.
Course Name/Rating:

Human Resource Management

Course Department: Business
Instructor: Edgar Kausel, Pedro Leiva
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Course was challenging in that it focused heavily on group work. Field trips were made as part of practical experience working with a HR problem in a Chilean business in Santiago. Teachers were knowledgeable but Kausel prepared classes better and tended to ramble less. Participated in class frequently. Assessed on preliminary report and final report on company HR issue, 10 OME (one-minute essays), class participation, and oral presentation to company. Very valuable in that I got to work with other foreign students. Professors very hospitable to foreign students.
Credit Transfer Issues: Transferred as MGT 2208 to Villanova University.
Course Name/Rating:

Intercultural Business Challenges in Latin America

Course Department: Universidad de Chile - Business
Instructor: Paz Betancourt
Instruction Language: English, Spanish (little use)
Comments: Course wasn't very challenging but did offer insight into Chilean industries (wine/liquor, mining, tourism, produce, etc.) Field trips were made as well as class presentations but they tended to drag on too long. Participated in class a little. Teacher was not very well prepared and only knowledgeable on culture, not industries themselves. Tended to tell way too many personal stories. Assessed on 3 field trip reports, final paper (10-15 pages), mid-term exam, and a quiz.
Credit Transfer Issues: Transferred as required International Business co-major class at Villanova.
Course Name/Rating:

Globalization, Treaties, and Trade Agreements

Course Department: Universidad de Chile - Business
Instructor: Paz Betancourt
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Course was not challenging. Assessed on mid-term exam, final exam, research report, and presentation on that report. No field trips, but 1 or 2 presentations. Teacher was not very knowledgeable. Read off of slides that were often copied from the Internet and again told too many stories of her own life. Did not participate in class very much. Course content could have been interesting with a better teacher.
Credit Transfer Issues: Transferred as a core Villanova course, "Global Political Economy."