My Semester in Ferrara Past Review

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 03/01/2019 to 06/30/2019 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Ferrara

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

Studying abroad in Italy was, in several ways, a turning point in my life. I would say that I succeeded in the immersive cultural facets of the experience, such as learning the language and acquiring knowledge of the sociocultural situations, albeit still from an American's perspective. To reduce this, I now fluctuate between advanced and fluent status of Italian after having started strictly Intermediate, and I can make fresh pasta totally by hand. I also failed quite seriously--literally with regards to my grades--but more broadly in the sense that I had been avoiding grave personal issues for several years. Luckily, my experience abroad forced me to confront these issues, which include a brain disorder for which I will very soon seek treatment. "Worthwhile" does not possess the degree of intensity with which to describe my experience. Though far from perfect, it was truly the experience of my life so far.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

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?	The housing selection process was unsatisfactory. The pre-select option I chose had incorrect information regarding the ages of the two Italian roommates. I expected older, graduated young adults to walk in through the door on the first day, not 19-year-olds. If I had known they were this young, I would have not selected this option. It really did not help that they were consistently filthy, passive-aggressive, and unwelcoming. I wish I had known more about choosing my own rental to be absolutely sure of the type of living situation I was getting myself into.
* 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 The language pledge and the opportunity to follow a wholly-immersive linguistic course load is the reason to choose this program and by far the most fulfilling aspect of it. I would not have this any other way. I would not do an internship again, however.

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?	~$150 but only because we bought high-quality ingredients

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?	Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program?	Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	ITAL0380
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans
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?	Language immersion Independence Cultural trips
* What could be improved?	More accessible administration MUCH better internships More housing choices
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I now know that survive anywhere, but in order to be able to do anything I set my mind to I need the requisite help and assistance.

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:	General Linguistics
Course Department:	ITAL
Instructor:	Various
Instruction Language:	Italian
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Ferrarese Literature and Culture
Course Department:	ITAL
Instructor:	Teresa Quarta
Instruction Language:	Italian
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: