Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Really tough but totally worth it. Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/29/2016 to 12/15/2016 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury In Rabat, Morocco

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile. I learned that had I prepared more thoroughly, my first month or so would have probably been easier. But I also knew that I had a learning curve and though it took awhile, once the language clicked, it really felt like I had begun to truly internalize Arabic.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Achraf and Samir are wonderful. The fall semester being the first semester of the program, there were a lot of things that they were still figuring out but I'm confident with time and experience their leadership will only improve.

* 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?

I didn't feel like access to healthcare was great while I was there, but I did sprain my ankle and Achraf took me to a clinic where I got good treatment.

* Safety:

I felt very safe in Rabat and Morocco. There were certain things I wouldn't do i.e. walk alone after dark or wear revealing clothes but I never felt as if I were in danger.

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

I think that even though the Middlebury program is new, it is the best in Morocco. It is extremely rigorous and really pushes you to learn Arabic. Although I had challenges future students will not face since this was the first semester of the program, I learned so much and made leaps and bounds with my Arabic.

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)

Morocco is very cheap but there were certain things I had to spend money on that made me go over my budget such as buying extra data to use since I had poor WiFi or buying myself food because my host family was very strict about the fact that they only provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner and not snacks.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $10
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to keep a weekly budget. It's easy to save money if you have a plan. Make sure to tell your back ahead of time that you're going abroad because one of my biggest expenses ended up being ATM fees.

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

I was in a language pledge program so we spoke Arabic 24/7.

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Arabic 202
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Use it all the time. I firmly believe immersion is the only way to truly learn a language and if I had not had the language pledge, I don't think I would have progressed as much or as quickly as I did during my semester.

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

  • 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?
  • Travel
  • Arabic language/learning
* What could be improved?
  • Professors - specifically teaching style and content
  • Communication
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Exactly which chapter in our textbook we were going to begin at - I was very behind and that and the fact that I really didn't "speak" Arabic at the beginning of the semester really affected my first month and a half or so.

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!