Rabat: Moroccan Family Immersion Past Review

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/26/2018 to 12/22/2018 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury In Rabat, Morocco

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

I developed great relationships with the people I interacted with regularly and I learned to appreciate a new culture which I absolutely fell in love with! It was definitely 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.
* 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?	No No and yes. I would choose the same host family, and the same city and administrators but not the same program! I would've preferred a program where volunteering and community service was at the core and I had more of an opportunity to take classes with locals and engage with them more. I also would've preferred a more immersive experience that integrated us into Moroccan society! But the one thing I absolutely loved about this program was its staff, employees, the host families, and students!

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?	150.00 USD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Don't waste money on super expensive restaurants! Public transport is great and walking around Rabat is easy!

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?	Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	Intermediate Arabic 202
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?	DO NOT BREAK THE PLEDGE! Buy pocket dictionaries and make local friends that will force you to engage in Arabic! Go to local events and immerse yourself!

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?	0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Administrators, teachers, host family Country Community service activities
* What could be improved?	Integration Darija class Trips, activities
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I knew that Darija was hard and that we would have to go out on our own to integrate into society.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Contemporary Politics in North Africa
Course Department:	Political Science
Instructor:	Ahmed Bouz
Instruction Language:	Arabic
Comments:	It was very interesting! I thoroughly enjoyed it! There was 1 field trip, but the teacher was knowledgeable and well-prepared. We had papers and exams.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No I did not have trouble.

Course Name/Rating:	Moroccan Colloquial Arabic
Course Department:	Arabic
Instructor:	Jawad
Instruction Language:	Arabic
Comments:	It was very challenging but the teacher was not well-prepared. I participated less in class and felt very self-conscious. We were assessed using papers, exams, presentations, and homework.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No.

Course Name/Rating:	Standard Arabic
Course Department:	Arabic
Instructor:	Najat Kribaa
Instruction Language:	Arabic
Comments:	Absolutely amazing teacher! Very challenging but intellectually stimulating and very interactive as well! No field trips but great teacher, knowledgeable and more than prepared! Participated more than at home institution and assessed using all of the above.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No

Course Name/Rating:	Berber Communities
Course Department:	Arabic
Instructor:	Hassan Belhiah
Instruction Language:	Arabic
Comments:	Amazing professor! Field Trip to Ircam, teacher was very knowledgeable and more than prepared! Participated a lot and we were assessed with all of the above.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No