AWESOME! Past Review
By A student (University of Minnesota - Twin Cities) - abroad from 08/27/2017 to 12/17/2017 with
ISDSI: Sustainable Development Studies: Thailand
New cultural perspectives, a lot on what is being done to effectively protect the environment, a new language, and experience teaching English Abroad
Personal Information
| 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. |
Extremely intense and rigorous, but staff and other students are always there to help you! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The home stay in both Chiang Mai and the internship were phenomenal! |
| * Food: |
Amazing!! I had some of the best food of my life on this trip. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt great and worked hard to fit in and understand local culture by studying inside and outside the classroom. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was hospitalized during my trip due to an incident that occurred, but health care was very responsive and I was fine. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safe most of the time, however, I would still recommend that students stay with their host families or internship placements after dark. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It was life changing! I really want to go back. |
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) |
Very well. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Most of the time! We had Thai classes as part of our curriculum so it helped. We used Thai on a daily basis. Some internship placements do not speak English so it motivates you to learn and adapt quickly. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | More Thai! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
