Truly Transformative and Profound Experience to gain fundamental Perspective February 20, 2024
By Michael Y (Economics, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/06/2023 to 05/17/2024 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Florence
Learned a lot about the language / 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. |
It was definitely more rigorous and intense than expected. Resources were good just a little sporadic and disorganized. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Administration took care of everything that was needed. It was a bit sporadic and disorganized. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Place was beautiful - Host was crazy. |
| * Food: |
AMAZING |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Being an Italian-American definitely helped in integrating with the local culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
It was great! |
| * Safety: |
Florence was very safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
Probably a program where the course load was not so rigorous |
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) |
4 |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Not sure |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't eat out every night |
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 |
Frequent encouragement. Required to use it within the school |
| 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? | 340? |
| 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? | Just be really committed to speak for a large portion of the time. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | How hard classes were going to be |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Economia e Soceita |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Mancini |
| Instruction Language: | |
| Comments: | Loved it |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Was not necessary |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Stillistica |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Carleti |
| Instruction Language: | |
| Comments: | Amazing |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Not neccessary |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Dante |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | De Martino |
| Instruction Language: | |
| Comments: | It was not very challenging and quite boring. However, this was less of a reflection upon the Professor and pertained more to the material |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | N/A |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Mediterraneo e Medio Oriente |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Tonini |
| Instruction Language: | |
| Comments: | It was very challenging because the class was all in Italian. Lecture heavy. He spoke Italian in a fast manner |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
