This is an amazing course for teachers! Past Review

By (National University of Ireland, Galway) - abroad from 06/29/2016 to 07/23/2016 with

USAC Ireland: Galway - Irish Literature, History, and Music

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned some things I can do in my classroom and I also learned a lot about the education system and culture of Ireland. Yes, it was worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There was a good amount of work involve,d but it was interesting and manageable.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff was wonderful.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

It was a bit noisy at the end of the program, but prior to that things were great. We had some issues getting a comfortable temperature the first couple of days, but that worked better after that.

* Food:

I bought mots of my food at the grocery store. The few things I had on campus were fine.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any health issues so I can't comment on this.

* Safety:

I felt safe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I learned a lot, saw some great places, and met some wonderful people.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $300
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy more food at the grocery store and don't go out to eat as much. That'll help you save money, but then you miss out on some of the social aspects so you have to balance carefully.

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

They did encourage us to use Irish (Gaelic), but we mostly spoke English as that's what most of the locals spoke.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? No because they mostly spoke English.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • The people
  • The culture
  • The learning experience
* What could be improved?
  • More advice on how much money to bring
  • a packing list
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That it really does rain a lot

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.