Program Reviews

I’m so happy that I chose this program! From the staff to the students, CET Japan was the time of my life. With three hours of class, a language pledge, and time to explore anything from Osaka to neighboring countries, I couldn’t have asked for more. As a result of this program, I made friends from different backgrounds, learned about cultural differences (as a result of coming from different states, countries, etc.), and tore down a language barrier. My one warning is that this program is best for those who are truly interested in learning Japanese and meeting new people. The housing situation can either be GREAT or subpar (but never bad) depending on roommates + housing placement. The best part of this experience for me was the local roommate matching, as they played a big role in connecting me to the community. Whether it was restaurants, sports, trips, or my wildest dreams, I owe a lot of my knowledge to my amazing roommates and OGU friends. I loved this experience, and you will too!!

At CET Florence you got to class Monday-Thursday. Typically classes ended for everyone at 3:30 on Thursday’s. The classes were manageable where you did not have to do work on the weekends. Florence was absolutely beautiful, safe, lots of amazing food, shops, hikes, and overall good food. So many study abroad students and younger people. However, florence has a small airport so it’s expensive to travel to milan and rome to fly for weekend trips, and it rained a lot this spring! when the weather is nice, it’s perfect. I highly recommend this program!

I think that CET Florence did an amazing job of really making the program unique to the city. This came not only from their course options, but from their activities as well. The activities included going to surrounding cities, going to gorgeous locations, trying regional foods, or even just discovering the history that makes Florence, Florence! The staff were all very helpful, professors wanted us to make the most of our abroad experience, and the city itself was perfection. I WILL be returning

I cannot recommend CET Taiwan enough. My classes were rigorous without being overwhelming. I had ample opportunities to practice my Mandarin skills, and could see myself improving dramatically over the course of the program. The balanced coursework combined with the highly convenient public transportation to enable me to do a great deal of traveling around the island. People in Taiwan are very welcoming and helpful, and Taiwan's culture is endlessly enriching. The CET Taiwan staff are super friendly and a very useful resource. CET had many program-sponsored activities which made experiencing the Taiwanese culture more accessible. Taiwan's natural beauty is unparalleled, and the whole trip was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

My experience overall was amazing. Siena as a city was all I hoped it would be. The environment of the ancient medieval city was breathtaking and simple in the best way. Every evening I would take walks around Siena, enjoying the views, breathing in the smells of all of the local eateries, listening to music, and just observing all of the other locals taking their evening walks as well. It can be difficult to travel outside of Siena because of its Tuscan location and limited access to public transit, but this is a universal Italian issue.

Just as I am writing this review, I know next semester back in the States will be much more depressing. I felt like I completely re-invented myself in many ways while abroad, and I brought back many of these personal changes I experienced. Very frequently our cohort would travel to new parts of China on weekends, and this experience became a shining part of my study abroad experience. Shanghai, and China overall, is so convenient with its public transportation that it made something like that so accessible. The friends and the memories I made there will be continue to haunt the rest of my life (but in a good way).

I will forever savor every moment I had studying abroad in Taiwan. From the intensive Mandarin courses to my internship with Fulbright Taiwan to all of the friends that I made, I am truly grateful for this experience. Although you will experience homesickness or culture shock, the number of positive experiences you will have will greatly outweigh all of these challenges. Don't let the scary things stop you from trying something new - it really is life-changing!

Through the CET Japan program, I had the invaluable opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture while participating in an intensive Japanese language course. This not only allowed me to significantly improve my language skills but also deepened my appreciation for Japanese culture and daily life. Beyond academics, I was fortunate to explore the vibrant city of Osaka and travel to nearby areas, all while building meaningful connections with my peers. The program enabled me to meet people from diverse backgrounds, expanding my social network in ways I had never imagined.

In addition, I interned at I-Chat, a language exchange space where I had regular conversations with Japanese students to support them in practicing English. This experience was incredibly rewarding — it sharpened my communication skills, pushed me to become more socially confident, and gave me the chance to form genuine friendships through cross-cultural dialogue. Overall, CET Japan was a transformative experience that helped me grow both personally and socially.

The best thing about this program is cultural immersion. I got a local roommate and two language partners who both helped me improve my Chinese and better understand Taiwanese culture. The Chinese class was definitely intense (3 hours a day, 5 days a week), but the teacher was super sweet and understanding. I also felt very comfortable to practice speaking in class since all my classmates were very nice and supportive. Overall it was an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend it to any Chinese learners

Going into study abroad, I was not sure what I was to encounter. I had heard stories from friends who had gone before that it was their favorite experience in college and I was worried that my experience would not be the same. Going into the first day of orientation at CET, I was anxious about making friends, adjusting to a new country, learning the culture, and still being academically focused. Yet, the CET program, staff, professors, and fellow students could not have been better. The program is relatively small compared to most programs which I loved as it gave us a chance to get to know everyone very well through organized events like Czechtivities and traveling seminars. The staff were some of the kindest people I had ever met and were willing to adapt to each student's needs. I was also impressed with the academics. Going into abroad, I wanted to get an international/diverse perspective from my classes that were focused on economics and politics. The professors ensured that we got that experience by emphasizing Europe-specific events and perspectives like the Eurozone crisis and creation of the EU. Lastly, the students in CET were the absolute best part. The close-knit community helped me make some of my closest friends and form connections that I will continue to foster for the rest of my life. I would highly, highly recommend CET Prague to any students looking to study abroad. Prague is a stunning city with a plethora of things to do as a young college student and CET makes sure your semester will be one to remember.