Catania: Summer with CET Past Review
By Sinead S (., Brandeis University) for
Study Abroad Programs in Italy
Yes, my study abroad experience was worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Due to the fact that this program was in its first year and that my professor was one of the educators, I felt comfortable giving feedback during the program. Every teacher was great and I had a blast. If the group had been a bit larger (or maybe a lot larger, as we only had 6 people), I think that we would have generally been better off. However, I believe that the program is growing quickly and that the size will increase every year. We had a great curriculum and our class size allowed us to move through the material at a customized pace. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Alan was great and welcoming. His knowledge of Catania and its people is amazing. I cannot praise his attitude enough. I think he had the right balance of confidant and teacher. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I think the living arrangements would have been better at a different time of year. We arrived as most of the students were taking exams and were essentially alone toward the end-- the cafeteria even shut down the last couple of days, which was a bummer. |
| * Food: |
The food was great. I wouldn't personally come to Italy if you're a strict vegan unless you\'re able to cook for yourself. There's a lot of fish. Go to the swordfish festival! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Again, the group was small and I get a little claustrophobic when on a specific schedule with the same people. Go out with the people in the program and the language partners for a little fun. And enjoy Catania. Also, if you're a girl, wear dark sunglasses and don\'t make eye contact with strangers. It's an invitation to flirtation, whatever you may think. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Girls, wear sunglasses. Make sure you have a friend with you. Catania is safe but still a city. Don't be stupid- tell people where you're going, at least generally. Dress appropriately. No bear shoulders or short-shorts or mini-skirts in churches, even if you're not religious. It's not a third world country so don't worry about laundry or toiletries. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
We would generally try to speak Italian together, as a group, but it's very draining to push yourself to think in another language. So we did speak in English together. The program (Alan, really) set up language partners for us. We spoke a combination of Italian and English with them. We only spoke Italian in the city as the general population can only say a couple of English phrases. Also, due to our living arrangement (a dorm-like building with a shared eating hall and courtyard), we spoke Italian with our neighbors. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Try to speak Italian outside of class. Go explore the city on your own. Wait for the July sales-- do not buy clothing in June. Instead of attempting to go to the mainland, stay in Sicily. Also, stay overnight in a different city, with friends or in a student hostel. Eat a gelato sandwich (you will know it when you see one). |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Language and Literature |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Patrizia Tropea, Paola Servino |
| Instruction Language: | Italiano |
| Comments: | I am combining two courses here. Patrizia and Paola were able to work with one another during their respective course times. I think we all found it a bit confusing because we didn\'t know whether one course or the other was Lit or Lang. Still, it worked, mainly because of the size of our class. (As long as we knew what we were supposed to do, it didn\'t matter what it was called.) Patty and Paola were magnificent. They were both great teachers and Patrizia especially was a good guide to her home city. And Paola had been before and was familiar with a lot of the nightlife, which was a bonus. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
History of Sicily |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Ivana Santonocito |
| Instruction Language: | Italiano |
| Comments: | Ivana was a great teacher. She took us on a number of field trips, which were great. Sicily history is complicated, rich and long and I had a great time looking at the parts of Catania which were frozen in time (aka preserved in lava). |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
