Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Necessary. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/22/2017 to 07/22/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Santiago

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was absolutely worthwhile to give me direction in what I want after study abroad and how I want to take my experience and apply it towards a good cause.

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?

* 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 had fairly manageable health issues (common cold, sore throat, etc.) so I only needed access to cough syrup and Advil/Tylenol.

* Safety:

There was only one incident where I witness a robbery, but that did not deter how safe I felt for the rest of the time I was in Santiago. I know the resources to contact the police as well as the local neighborhood police that patrol the area that I lived in.

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)

It was easy for me because I had saved up money and allotted money for certain aspects of study abroad (ex. rent, travel, university, etc.). After allotting money, I kept a spreadsheet to track my expenses and stick to my budget.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Keep track of expenses and make sure your first priority is money for rent and the cost of travel (money for metro/micro system).

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

We took the language pledge that extended not only to university and internships, but also on social media and entertainment - I watched all my shows dubbed in Spanish and took advantage to local theaters showing Spanish only movies with content that I would not be available in the United States.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? SPAN 349
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? Integrate Spanish usage in every aspect of your life and make sure to make as many friends who are locals (Chileans) so you have friends to practice with as well as learn the idiomatic expressions of students who are the same age as you.

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
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people
  • The culture
  • The hospitality
* What could be improved?
  • Organization
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You can't have specific expectations because there is no way to describe one universal way to experience study abroad. If you are flexible in appreciating any and every aspect of the abroad experience, it will be worth it.

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:

Historia Social y Politica Latinoamericana
Course Department:
Instructor: Javier Osorio
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: I felt challened especially because it is a class offered for students in their 4th year of university (of their 5 year program). I participated in the class more than I would have at my home institution because of the language barrier and fears that I would not understand some of the information. I would constantly ask questions with my fellow classmates and professors to make sure I understood the material to the fullest. We were assessed through papers and some oral debates to prove that we were reading the material and working on group projects thoroughly and effectively.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have not begun the process to transfer credits to my home institution. I do not foresee issues because I have saved all of my assessments as well as the syllabus for the class in order to show how much I was assessed.
Course Name/Rating:

Lengua y Cultura Mapuche
Course Department:
Instructor: Enrique Antileo
Instruction Language: Mapuche/Spanish
Comments: I felt it was challenging, especially learning a (in my case) fourth language using my second language. What I wish could have been different was more class time, especially since it is learning another language and constant contact and practice helps facilitate that learning process. We would have a lot of group projects, but the professor also took into account each person's contribution to the assignments so that one person wasn't stuck doing all the work and other people took credit for it. We were also evaluated through written and oral exams.
Credit Transfer Issues: Have not begun the transfer process.