Great Experience. Can't wait to go back!!! Past Review
By Student (Lehigh University) - abroad from 08/23/2016 to 12/05/2016 with
SIT Study Abroad: Chile - Comparative Education and Social Change
I learned about a different culture that has experienced a tough history. It was very worthwhile. Best experience of my life, and I have had a fair amount of abroad experiences.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
excellent classes, the academic director was very supportive. Spanish classes were helpful and kept me engaged. At first, classes were hard because they were taught in Spanish, but I got used to this after 2 weeks. The only negative (which may not be a negative for some people) is the extreme left-wing bias that the program has. Granted, this is a social justice program, so this is to be somewhat expected. However, I think it would have been nice to hear from people with different opinion, even if I don't necessarily agree with all of them. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had a lot of personal health problems during my stay, and the program was very accommodating in getting me the support that I needed. |
| * Safety: |
overall felt safe. watch out with the public transport---you may easily get pickpocketed. Also, the busses are unstable and crowded. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | 100 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | nothing, I felt prepared |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
