El Peru era maravilloso Past Review
By Sheyda A (Government, Harvard University) for
Harvard University: Lima - DRCLAS in Peru: Spanish & Service Learning
Absolutely. I gained greater self-confidence, composure, and further developed my interest in health-related matters and the Spanish language.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad del Pacifico |
| 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. |
Although I can't speak much for the grading system at La Universidad del Pacifico, I can say that the teaching method stressed active involvement with the Spanish language and thorough integration of grammatical concepts with our (the students) combined observations about the culture and linguistic norms outside of the classroom. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All of these aspects were satisfactory. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Host family was amazing and still means a lot to me. I keep in contact with my host mom and neighbors. |
| * Food: |
not applicable |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
A trip to Chachapoyas and the Sierra with host mom. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Safety was variable around certain areas of the city. Our program administrators did a very good job explaining these urban nuances to us as did our host family members. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | approximately ten dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Budget for transportation, within country travels, dinner outings, and souvenirs. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish C - Intermediate Spanish |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced Spanish with my host family members, friends from Peru, classmates, neighbors, Professor, and other individuals I encountered (i.e. within markets, at restaurants etc.). I used the host country language in everyday interactions. Most people did not speak fluent English, although there were a few individuals I met who could. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | A student with an open mind would enjoy and benefit the greatest from this experience. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Espanol para Extranjeros (Spanish for Foreigners) |
| Course Department: | unknown |
| Instructor: | Sra. Lourdes Jorge |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | I had a fantastic experience within and without the classroom as a participant in the DRCLAS SCS program. My experiences in Peru transcended the typical tourist experience and really made an impact on my confidence. I really enjoy the Spanish language and now have something tangible (my summer experiences) to support and further my interest in this area. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Not to my knowledge. |
