Unforgettable Past Review
By Robert Micajah McGehee (University of Massachusetts Amherst / UMass) - abroad from 02/10/2020 to 04/02/2020 with
SIT Study Abroad Malaysia: Money, Trade, and the New Silk Road
It was worthwhile. I learned about the Malaysian culture, International trade and finance, strengthened my Chinese, made new connections, and made many friendships.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program administration was exceptional |
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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? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
No other program can match how this one catered to my needs and ambitions. The program is customized for each student based on what they want out of the experience. My experience was focused on trade and infrastructure. Each of my assignments focused on these subjects. Another student wanted her experience to be more focused on Malaysian culture. Her assignments were in turn catered to the culture. The way that the program focused on my individual needs makes it an easy choice to choose the same program if I had to do it over again. |
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) |
The program provides an allowance for food and transportation |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Little to none of my own money |
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? | Mandarin Chinese 400 |
| 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? | For Mandarin Chinese students, take the initiative to meet Chinese speakers. There are lots of speakers in Malaysia and it is important to seek them out |
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? | How much time you put into the program. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
