What makes a good study abroad program?

Applying to College
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<p>One thing I’ll share in the hope it might help someone else avoid a problem in the future - DD studied abroad in an inaugural uni-to-uni exchange program, and since it was the inaugural, the director at the hosting university offered his home as a sponsor family, and DD as the most advanced student was paired with them. </p>

<p>It was a disaster - they were a much older childless couple (60’s), and expected DD to socialize with them constantly, and the “mother” got rather passive-aggressive when DD wanted to sight-see or go out with friends and so on.</p>

<p>The wife, particularly, became increasingly irritated DD sharing her home, and so there were incidents like when “mommy-dearest” spent 2 hours following DD around the house, berating her for her “irresponsibility” for dog-earing a page in a paperback book she’d borrowed, the constant reminders of her failings, like the 2 times she failed to hang up her towels to dry, and often said things that began “You Americans …” (they were from the former East Germany, and a Stasi background wasn’t out of the question), and of course, her frequent attempts to “help” DD by pointing out her faults, and what she should do to fix them. The professor was nicer, but distant, and these things never happened in his presence, so from his perspective, there was no need to intervene. </p>

<p>So, while the majority of the trip was wonderful, it was a relief when it was over. </p>

<p>I suspect this couple would never participate again, and most, if not all of the other host families were younger, friendlier, and far less rigid than these - but personally, I’d think it’s less risky for programs with communal living arrangements, or at least with host families that have participated before (would be nice for students to be able to check host family “references”, especially before committing, but that’s not gonna happen.)</p>

<p>On the other hand, the jaw-dropping behaviors of some American college girls I’ve seen in Italy makes me think they should be locked in their rooms at dusk … :)</p>

<p>So, I’d stick with programs that have been around for awhile and where you can check with previous years’ participants. While “new” sounds good, I’ve come to believe that, as it relates to education (not just “Study Abroad”), more established programs seem a better way to go.</p>

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<p>One of the biggest things I’m looking forward to in college is a study abroad program.
Unfortunately I don’t know much. Think I’ll have to research a lot.</p>

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<p>In addition to requiring students to take most or all classes in the language of the country the program is in, Middlebury places students with a roommate from the host school and requires a one-on-one tutorial for each student in the language of the host country. I think the student proposes the topic/inquiry for the tutorial. It’s worth making the study abroad choice carefully because you don’t want to have a semester that is much lesser in academic quality than others. If the student just wants to travel and have some exposure to other cultures, that can be done in the summer.</p>

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<p>I have been reading this thread with interest, but I was hoping people who have had experience would mention the names of programs that have a good reputation. I know there are many- some affiliated with universities and some not.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>BLK616- Yeah, I don’t know why I avoid namedropping… that’s the point of anonymous internet forum-dom. The Copenhagen program I mentioned earlier is DIS. It’s got a pretty good reputation, but I felt the academics left something to be desired. Its redeeming factor is certainly the homestays and folkhojskole housing options.</p>

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<p>My DS is on a study abroad summer program, living with a host family in Spain. It is a wonderful experience so far with 4 days of classes (2 hours x 2 classes) trips on weekends and 1 weekday. He only speaks Spanish in the home. Walks everywhere to meet up with fellow students, go to class, etc. It is thru the university and a university prof is traveling with the group, as well as a local university prof teaching the other class. It is only a 6 week program, but it is divided up into intermediates and advanced, much homework, but he is fluent and really learning and having a great time. Exploring new places, foods, etc. This is a kid who really wasn’t into study abroad and is loving it. He is also helping a local student learn English while he is there. I’m impressed with what his university has put together for a program so far.</p>

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<p>Cupcake:
You do make a point, but I think that depends on the type of person. Yea there can be some students going ready to party, and some that are more focused on actually learning. Some are also going there for both reasons.<br>
Maybe you or someone you know ended up wasting their parents money on a study abroad program, but what you don’t realize not every person is the same.
But I do totally understand your opinion!</p>

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<p>Cupcake, I agree 100%. Spot on.</p>

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<p>My son wants a career at the state department and his first summer abroad program was spent with kids “on vacation”. He, however, was determined to gain his fluency in the language and ultimately ended up with a scholarship for a fall semester abroad. Although, his college made the initial arrangements, he still had to get each ‘abroad’ class approved by this home professors (in order to obtain credit), he took the classes in the language he was studying, and then had to navigate the real world in the other country by obtaining a local bank account, pay for his rent, then to learn how to cook his meals, etc. The entire study abroad was a major life learning experience. He traveled every weekend. And had 3 opportunities for an internship before he returned home. He made the most out of the opportunity.</p>

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<p>First of all, I’m not sure how you can claim one is the “most global program in the world” without experiencing other programs. But, when I was considering studying abroad, I had more questions than answers and to me if you want to be able to control what you do abroad just go through your school’s exchange program. While these spots are usually limited, it provides you with much more flexibility than the standard study abroad programs that offer you all the bells and whistles for more money.</p>

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<p>What a wonderful discussion we have here! I think cupcake does have a point about cultural immersion which should be a big aspect of studying abroad. Why go through studies in another country if you’re not going to learn, understand, and immerse yourself into the culture and language of that country? However, I do want to point out that while this is so, not everyone is as open minded or as out-going and going to another country can be both challenging and lonely. I actually just came back from a semester in Asia with my college and had the best time and experience. I initially wanted to study abroad via several online programs I found such as [CIS</a> Abroad](<a href=“http://www.cisabroad.com%22%5DCIS”>http://www.cisabroad.com), [Study</a> Abroad](<a href=“http://www.cbl-international.com%22%5DStudy”>http://www.cbl-international.com), and [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.gowithcea.com%5DCEA%5B/url”&gt;http://www.gowithcea.com]CEA[/url</a>] but eventually decided to stick with the program recommend by my international studies department. </p>

<p>A lot of times, it’s not the program that matters but what you and your classmates make of it. That is, during our free time, we were also out and about the city and even made travels to several other cities during the weekends. We made an effort to reach out to local students, made an effort to study and test out the language, and made an effort to spend our time wisely since we only had several months there.</p>

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<p>My daughter is planning to study abroad in Shanghai spring semester 2013. She is willing to sacrifice some cultural immersion and is looking at the various programs offered through her university (she has had two years of Mandarin and plans to take more language classes plus some other courses): International Studies Abroad (ISA), CEA Global Education, and The Education Abroad Network (TEAN). The reviews I’ve read of ISA and CEA aren’t particularly glowing endorsements, and I haven’t found much about TEAN. Does anyone have personal experience with any of these companies specific to Shanghai? She would be at Fudan University through TEAN, and the CC forum thread about it seemed positive overall. Thoughts, suggestions, advice?</p>

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<p>Can’t she direct enroll in a language school there? Her tuition would only be a few hundred dollars probably, maybe a thousand or two. She’d have to get her home university’s approval though.</p>

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<p>bump 10char</p>