Great Immersion Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/07/2019 to 04/27/2019 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Moscow

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I improved my Russian skills, learned about a new culture, made some friends, and got out of my comfort zone.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The rigor was not too difficult, and some students received preferential treatment (not having to do certain assignments or doing a short essay instead of an in-class oral exam)

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* 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

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? I did not keep track
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try not to eat out very often. It is tempting when everyone else on the program does

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? Russian 311
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* 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?
  • Immersion
  • Organized Events
  • Moscow Itself
* What could be improved?
  • More accountability for students and less handholding
  • Better organized syllabi in some cases
  • The placement/assessment tests at the beginning and end of the program were not effective at showing my growth
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I should have tried to get out of my comfort zone and make Russian friends earlier in the semester.

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:

Three Moscows

Course Department:
Instructor: Maya Anatolyevna
Instruction Language: Russian
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Russian Through Politics

Course Department:
Instructor: Oleg Ilyasov
Instruction Language: Russian
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

History of the Twentieth Century

Course Department:
Instructor: Sergei Leonidovich
Instruction Language: Russian
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Russian Grammar

Course Department:
Instructor: Yevgenia Pavlovna
Instruction Language: Russian
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: