Just absolutely amazing! Past Review

By A student (None, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/25/2013 to 12/13/2013 with

ISA Study Abroad in Rome, Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

It was definitely worthwhile. It took me out of my comfort zone but I met some really great people and I learned how to live on my own and budget my money. I don't regret it one bit.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:
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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$100-200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	As much as I would have like to eat out every night, it's too expensive. It's a great time to learn how to cook!

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
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program?	Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	Intro
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?	Order in Italian, ask directions in Italian. Write your grocery list in Italian. Talk to your friends in Italian, practice together.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans
* 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?	Traveling roommates food
* What could be improved?	the Rome transportation system Doctor
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish going in that I had made more of a travel plan of where I wanted to go and a spending plan.

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 Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Introduction to Italian Language and Culture
Course Department:	Italian Language
Instructor:	Marcella Allamprese
Instruction Language:	Italian and English
Comments:	I found this class very useful for getting a base knowledge of Italian. All of the vocabulary we learned was meant to help us get around Rome. I didn't know any Italian going in so this class was great. The teacher was my favorite at AUR. She was very nice and always made it clear what she wanted. We only went on one field trip, but it showed us the area we were in and it's history. We were mainly assessed by exams.
Credit Transfer Issues:	Credits got sent to my high school instead of my college. I emailed them and it took awhile but they got there finally.

Course Name/Rating:	Writing Workshop I
Course Department:	English
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	English is usually my favorite class but I did not like the teacher. He just did not seem like he wanted to be here. The readings and the prompts were mostly boring. We did not go on any field trips. We were assessed by our papers.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Art of Rome
Course Department:	Art History
Instructor:	Timothy Allen
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The only time we were in the classroom was the test days. The teacher had a lot of knowledge of the art and buildings we saw. We were assessed by pop quizzes, tests, and papers.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Italian Sketchbook: Images of Rome
Course Department:	Fine Art
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	I loved this course. We went all around Rome, into museums and its piazzas. The teacher was wonderful. She was very nice but also critical. She really showed us how to use each material. We were assessed by our homework and how much effort we put into it.
Credit Transfer Issues: