Loving the SASL experience Past Review
By A student (University of Notre Dame) - abroad from 05/28/2012 to 06/30/2012 with
Sant'Anna Institute: Sorrento - Live, Learn and Immerse in Italy
I thought it was very worthwhile. I feel like my language skills improved and I also got to experience Italian life.
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. |
The only thing I would change about my experience is that I would have spent more time at SASL. I did an internship program and I feel that I might have gotten more out of it if I had spread it out over 10 weeks instead of choosing to complete it in 5. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The SASL staff was great. They were always willing to help with any problems that anyone had. They also did a great job of welcoming the students to the program. They offered an orientation and a welcome dinner that really helped me to get to know the other students. During the program, SASL organized excursions and activities that really helped me take advantage of the location. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I stayed with a host family and I really enjoyed discovering the similarities and differences between Italian family life and the way I live at home. |
| * Food: |
The food is amazing. There's a lot of seafood here, which I loved, but there is also a lot of pasta and pizza. I would say the best part was actually the fruit. Although Sorrento is famous for lemons, I found that all of the fruit was especially delicious and flavorful. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I think part of the reason I did not feel as integrated with the culture is that I was here for a very short time. I think that if I had been able to do a semester program here I would have had more of an opportunity to get involved. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The pharmacists here are really knowledgeable and helpful. If there is a serious medical issue, the SASL staff was there to help. |
| * Safety: |
Sorrento is a really safe area. While it is a city, you definitely have a small town feel there. There are always policemen patrolling and it made me feel really safe to know that they were keeping an eye out for anything sketchy. |
| 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) |
The food expenses were very manageable, but alcohol here can get expensive fast. I also ended up spending a lot on souvenirs. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | about $300 (I got breakfast and an evening meal included as part of my homestay fee) |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't eat out every day. Go to the grocery store and buy something so you can make some of your meals at home. |
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 |
My class was conducted in Italian and they definitely encouraged me to use it! |
| 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? | An Upper Intermediate Level |
| 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? | Go out and talk to people. People like to see you try to speak the language. If you make the effort, they will usually meet you halfway. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had known how much time the internship program had involved. I might have tried to either not do an internship for credit or extend my time here. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Medieval Italian I |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Dott. Domenico Palumbo |
| Instruction Language: | Italian |
| Comments: | I thought this course did a great job of giving me an understanding of Dante's Commedia. I liked the cantos that were chosen for us to look at in depth, and the course left me with an interest in reading the entire Commedia at a later date. Since there was only one other person in my class, I received a lot of individual attention and I found that I participated more than I would have at home. Domenico was a great teacher for the course. He made class interesting to go to and he was very knowledgeable. I enjoyed how he gave us information about the historical background as well as assistance with interpreting the cantos. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I do not anticipate any credit transfer issues, but I would recommend that students make sure they complete any pre-approval materials that their home university requires. |
