IES Cramped my style while I was Lampin it in Roma. At least classes are easy. Past Review
By Aaron A (Film/Cinema/Video Studies., The University of Texas at Austin) for
IES Abroad: Study Rome - Language & Area Studies
Definitely. But I credit myself and my parents for that. Not my program.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Rules were overly restrictive |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing was great. Lived with Americans and an Italian |
| * Food: |
Food was amazing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I had a great experience and was mostly assisted by my program |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Rarely felt threatened in any way. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Though I enjoyed the trip to southern Italy, I think it could've been removed. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Had not taken a college level language course besides AP Italian |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I used Italian in everyday interactions. Most outside of the city center seemed at least unwilling to talk in English, if not completely unable. I lived with an Italian, and even though he knew English well, he helped me immensely and spoke with me all the time. |
Other Program Information
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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? | Come to this program if you want a roommate to speak to in Italian. Otherwise there's not much to recommend |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Italian Fascism: The First Totalitarian Political Religion |
| Course Department: | History 335 |
| Instructor: | Renato Moro |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Lectures were overly dry and repetitive. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Have not transferred the credits yet |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Intermediate Italian II |
| Course Department: | Italian 202 |
| Instructor: | Anna Ferrari |
| Instruction Language: | Italian |
| Comments: | Great teacher. Held back by lack of effort from other students. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Have not transferred the credits yet |
| Course Name/Rating: |
The Grand Tour: Italy and The Literary Imagination |
| Course Department: | Literature 325 |
| Instructor: | Chiara Lucarelli |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | An insane course load filled with dry books. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Have not transferred the credits yet |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Contemporary Italian Politics |
| Course Department: | Political Science 221 |
| Instructor: | Matthia Toaldo |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Interesting Teacher and subject |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Have not transferred the credits yet |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Social Problems in Southern Italy |
| Course Department: | Sociology |
| Instructor: | Matthia Toaldo |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Engaging Teacher and subject |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Have not transferred the credits yet |
