Best time of my life Past Review
By Nick Iftner (University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign) - abroad from 09/06/2016 to 01/20/2017 with
University of Illinois: Illinois Year-in-Japan Program
It got me out of my introverted comfort zone. My language skills improved so much as well
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. |
Focusing mostly on the Japanese language was tough for me, but in the end it was all worth it. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very kind and very supportive |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was my favorite part of my experience. They were amazing and helped me beyond measure. |
| * Food: |
Not even sure how to review this. The food was amazing! Eating dinner with my host family almost every night is something I'll always remember |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
You may have to jump out of your comfort zone, but it is totally worth it. Never a dull moment |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no health issues, but when I was sick the program gave me the time I needed to recover, and i was not penalized for missing class. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Nishinomiya. Love that city |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The experience was amazing! Karaoke, baseball, food, all of these would keep me coming back |
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) |
It was easy to live on the student budget. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Use your student ID for discounts |
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? | Beginner |
| 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? | Japanese 202 |
| 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? | Talk to your host family! They are the key to success |
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? | I wish I would have talked to my family a lot more |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
