Learning to Learn for Life! Past Review
By Erin (Wheaton College, IL) - abroad from 01/14/2019 to 05/18/2019 with
ISDSI: Sustainable Development Studies: Thailand
I learned real professional skills about how to approach a place, people and situation by understanding geography, history, ecology, culture.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I studied Thai language, culture, and ecology, but I left with the more important skills of how to approach and understand any place holistically. |
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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? |
Traveled throughout the course and stayed with different host families the whole time. It gave me a panoramic view of Thai hospitality and lots of opportunities for questions and relationships. |
| * Food: |
It's home cooked Thai food, you can't go wrong. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was speaking Thai and living with my Thai parents. I was learning but I was never cloistered in a school. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Thailand has universal health care, and the program has well trained staff for when you're traveling. |
| * Safety: |
There's always risk when you're traveling, but ISDSI does at good job at preparing for those risks. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It was the most valuable semester of my undergraduate career in understanding how to be a student even when not taking conventional courses. |
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) |
tuition for the program includes a stipend they give back to you throughout your semester. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $10 |
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 |
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| 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? | 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? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | be a kid! expect mistakes but laugh at yourself! |
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? | I wish I knew how I would get my Language Compentency (it worked out, but I went in unsure). |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
