Learning Experiences All Around Italy January 22, 2023
By A student (History, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/16/2022 to 12/21/2022 with
Eastern College Consortium (ECCO): Bologna - Università di Bologna Study Abroad Program
I became more independent and I broadened my perspectives. I put myself out there to make new friends in a different language and with people from other countries, and I learned more about the language and culture. It was all very worthwhile.
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. |
The resources provided by the staff in preparation for our classes in Italian and for our final exams in our program and university courses were very helpful. The courses were difficult and had a lot of work to complete, but they were not too challenging for students. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our program staff were extremely helpful in giving us resources and providing information to help us acclimate to living in a new country and with people we'd never met before. Our staff were mostly well-organized, kind, and always there to help us with any issues we had. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartment of the dorm I was in was quite small and difficult to move around in with four people living in it. While my housemates and I worked to keep it clean, there were still some issues with the appliances and maintenance because the building was so old. |
| * Food: |
The food provided on all program events was amazing and helped immerse us into the culture. The staff ensured we had many options to choose from based on our dietary restrictions. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Taking a course at the university and living with other Italian students helped me feel closer to the local culture, but I didn't feel very forced into integrating with the local culture because I had so many friends on the program who I spent most of my time with. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health issues were addressed well during the program. We had access to an English-speaking doctor who was helpful. |
| * Safety: |
Our city was not overly touristy, and while there were issues with pickpocketing, I did feel safer here than I did when traveling in other Italian cities. We had an orientation session to discuss safety and security, and while some areas felt less safe than others especially at night, it overall was not too much of a concern. |
| 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) |
Food and most products were very cheap there, and it was very easy to follow a budget. Part of our pay went towards a daily food allowance, and with proper meal planning and budgeting it was very easy to save money with only a minimal personal cost. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Approximately 120-150 per week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Meal planning and making the most of your food before it goes bad is very helpful. |
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 |
We were required to use the language in classes and when speaking to program staff, but we were not always encouraged to speak in Italian to our peers outside of classes and other programs. |
| 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? | 200-level Italian 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? | Watch TV shows or movies in the language with subtitles. If that's not possible, listen in English and follow along with the language subtitles. Try to speak in it as much as possible when interacting with locals and your housemates (if they're not part of your program) and be okay with making mistakes and willing to learn. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew more colloquial Italian phrases and more about the local culture of the city I lived in. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
