Honest Views of a Registered Teacher & Art Therapist June 22, 2021
By Charlie (Chinese University of Hong Kong / CUHK) - abroad from 06/01/2018 to 08/01/2018 with
Masaryk University: Brno - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learnt a lot about program searching. Never go for a program just because it's cheap.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I cannot fulfill a course during that period but then they asked me to pay them more money for their accommodation because I cannot fulfill the attendance requirement. I paid more than a double! However, they 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗗 the rule before!!!!!!!! They did not ask me and enter to my room for asking the payment!!!!!!!!! I swear to god i am speaking the truth!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I cannot fulfill a course during that period but then they asked me to pay them more money for their accommodation because I cannot fulfill the attendance requirement. I paid more than a double! However, they 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗗 the rule before!!!!!!!! They did not ask me and enter to my room for asking the payment!!!!!!!!! I swear to god i am speaking the truth!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Cheap and taste ok |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
They did not offer help for the student with illness, one of the students was sick and she asked for advice on clinic searching. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I am a registered teacher in elementary sector and a registered art therapist in vancouver. The pedagogy they used in the language program is FAILED. Offering reading passage and event in foreign language for beginners to learn is horrible. No intrinsic motivation at all. As a registered art therapist, I am experienced in counselling service. The way they handle the international students with medical needs is not supposed to be like that if you are working as an educator or any jobs in education field. I truly hope that the management team of Centre for International Cooperation can review the practices of their employees from Strategy and International Marketing Division, especially for the people who are working on summer schools. |
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) |
They living cost there is low |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100-200euro |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | get a better GPA and you will get the scholarship from your home country |
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 |
They sent us to the event in foreign language without any English translation or notes for our reference. Sounds like they want you to be the guest to let other honorable guests know that their event is attractive. I want to learn but attending an event in foreign language is not the best pedagogy for beginners. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Dutch |
| 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? | Better not to choose Masaryk University: Brno. They just care about profits but not your learning outcome. I am a registered teacher in my home country and I know what is language education, the current practices in their program cannot nurture you to achieve the beginner level of that language. It's just so sad. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | The way they teach and the staff are supportive or not. |
