An excellent term Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/03/2019 to 04/13/2019 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained much insight into library research, as well as insight into independence. I also made many, many friends! It was certainly worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Lots of essay-writing that helped quicken my research abilities.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

All administrators were excellent. They took the time to get to know each of the students and made sure we felt comfortable and welcome.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

A bit cramped, especially the kitchen area,but overall good. Excellent location in the city.

* Food:

Street food was readily available and was generally good and reasonably priced. Supermarkets were within walking distance to the student housing. The kitchen had a reasonable amount of supplies for cooking.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We did not interact much with local Oxford students, but we did share many of their routines, like access to dining halls and libraries.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

The city seemed relatively safe at all times.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

This program challenged me on a daily basis to further my reading and writing abilities. The city of Oxford was also a prime environment for learning.

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)

If you were careful about spending, you could live on roughly 100 dollars per week. If you enjoyed going out to pubs and ate out more, you'd spend closer to 150 dollars per week.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 125
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to eat out only a few times per week and cook all other meals. That said, definitely go out when you can and enjoy the experience!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The other students
  • The faculty/administration
  • The location
* What could be improved?
  • More connection to Oxford extracurriculars
  • Larger common space (kitchen)
  • Nothing else!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Pack lightly! You'll inevitably acquire some new belongings while there, and do not need nearly as many things as you think you will.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

The Inklings

Course Department: English
Instructor: Dr. Julie Dresvina
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course provided a comprehensive look at J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and other Inklings. The instructor made each student read several core texts, but then allowed for some personal choices to be made later on, to shape the course to our individual interests. It was a steady amount of reading and writing (one novel and one 2,000-word essay per week) that kept me busy and engaged. It certainly made use of the city of Oxford; Julie took our class on several field trips to various Oxford colleges to see relevant manuscripts and first edition books. I participated more than usual because the course was one-on-one.
Credit Transfer Issues: I did not transfer any credits.
Course Name/Rating:

Chinese Language/Literature

Course Department: Chinese
Instructor: Dr. Wendy Che
Instruction Language: Chinese
Comments: This course focused on exploring Chinese poetry, improving speaking fluency, and advancing reading comprehension. Assessments included presentations, short essays, and many reading assignments. I participated at a similar level to my home institution, especially during one-on-one sessions discussing Chinese poetry.
Credit Transfer Issues: I did not transfer any credits.
Course Name/Rating:

Church Architecture

Course Department: HARC/Religion
Instructor: Dr. Bernard Gowers and Dr. Mary Louise Lillywhite
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course provided and excellent look at many centuries of church architecture, paying special attention to historical context. It made excellent use of Oxford—we took several short field trips to relevant churches to observe a given architectural style. The two teachers were extremely knowledge, asked thoughtful questions, and gave very clear explanations of the material. I participated as often as I would normally participate in a class. Our assignments included weekly readings, short presentations, and a final paper at the end of the term.
Credit Transfer Issues: I did not transfer any credits.
Course Name/Rating:

Music Research

Course Department: Music
Instructor: Sarah Moynihan
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course challenged me to synthesize musical analysis into a research essay. The teacher was knowledgeable and well-prepared, though was absent for the first week of the course, which made beginning research a little challenging. We were assessed on one research paper.
Credit Transfer Issues: I did not transfer any credits.