Program Reviews

CET Florence is a great program for those wishing to study in Florence. All of the housing is in the center of the city, which is a great way to immerse yourself in the Florence culture. The academics are relatively difficult, and do a good job of exposing you to many aspects of the city and culture of Italy. The program also organizes a few trips and activities for the students, which are not required but are available, which is nice. The staff is very nice and goes out of their way to get to know you, although I think that they could have been more supportive when it comes to absences for cases that should be excused (such as sickness, this is not excused). CET was a great program for me, an art history student, who wanted to learn more about the culture and history of Florence.

This past semester, I studied in the CET program in São Paulo, Brazil. This was my second time out of the United States but the first time living in another country.

Location: São Paulo is a vibrant and colorful city that offers tons of opportunities for fun and education. One thing I appreciated was that I didn't feel out of place in Brazil because of the familiarity of a large city – the only difference being that people speak Portuguese. I will say that if you don't have the initiative to go out and do things and interact then São Paulo can be boring. That being said, I suggest going to Ibirapuera Park (Parque Ibirapuera), its a large park that allows you to escape the city.

Housing: CET provides housing in apartments in the Perdizes sector of São Paulo. The location of the housing is important because it is really close to the CET offices and one of the PUC (host university) campuses. The area is gated and safe, but it is important to note that this area is extremely privileged. If you are a person of color, you will likely not resonate with the area but not unwelcoming. In addition, because CET places us in apartments, they also pair us with Brazilian roommates who also attend PUC. I think this is the greatest benefit to the program because I'm able to learn from peers at anytime and I don't feel a great difference from other college life.

Program: The CET program works in the way that they offer two mandatory classes that you take outside of the host university and the other three depend on your language level. As for me, my university required that all my courses be taken in Portuguese and that my three remaining classes needed to be taken at PUC. In the beginning I was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle this requirement but ultimately it isn't more work than I receive in the US. The Portuguese language that I take is lenient yet comes with a lot of work. We give multiple presentations within the semester and grammar work – in my opinion, while there is a high quantity of work, the more I am forced to speak at a college level I feel as though I am improving at a greater speed than ever before. As for the courses at PUC, they reflect what I would expect from college classes, I think the only difference is that final grades are completely dependent on a couple tests or a final paper with no other influences.

In addition, the program involves multiple excursions to places within in São Paulo and to other cities in Brazil. In the trip to Salvador, Bahia they combined a week of beaches, islands, and cultural exposure which was pretty amazing. I can honestly say now that I have visited some private islands.

Another thing that stems from how the program is set up are the people you interact with. The other people that make up my program are all Americans and they are usually the only people I interact with regularly. I highly recommend trying to make friends with other people at the university so you can have the best experience of living in Brazil. Because this can be difficult, I'm grateful for the Brazilian roommates that are always willing to be friendly.

Ultimately, Brazil is amazing, and I greatly enjoyed my time here!
(A little tip, if you have already decided to come to São Paulo, some things to remember so you won't be missing them: hot sauce, Reese's (thought Paçocas are pretty good), and any special hair products you may need.

My semester abroad was fantastic, and CET was a big part of it. The program offered interesting classes that I could take with my friends, and they also do a good job of offering activities outside the classroom to give students the Florentine experience. I spent a little less than half my weekends in Florence, but I still found things to do while I was here, and being here really made me appreciate the Italian culture. While it might be nerve-racking committing to spending 4 months on the other side of the world, I've had the absolute best time, and I also got the chance to grow personally. Coming to Florence was the best decision I ever made, and I'm thankful I got the chance to cross so many things off my bucket list!

I spent the spring term in Prague studying with CET and at FAMU. FAMU is one of the leading art schools in Prague and many alums go on to do incredible things. There is a very tight-knit artist community in Prague, especially when it comes to filmmakers and photographers and studying in Prague at FAMU gave me a sense of that and an access point into that world.

The program is great in that you are required to take several classes with a core group of CET photography students. In my case there were 10 of us CET Photography students so we had 3 main classes together lead by CET. These classes were terrific. I loved our Fine Art Photography course taught by Stepanka Stein. She was an incredible professor and is a very successful photographer as well. In this course we had several small assignments in the beginning of the term, and the later half of the semester was devoted to a larger project of our choosing to be hung in our final exhibition, and the making of a photo book. In addition to regular class meetings we would often visit galleries and exhibitions around Prague as a class, and had several technical lighting seminars (with professional commercial photographers, interesting locations, models, make-up artists, etc.). This class was by far my favorite part of the program and in the end I produced work that I am proud of.

Additionally, we were able to enroll in photography classes at FAMU. This was initially very exciting, however, the system for enrolling was a bit all over the place and therefore we photography students did not have our schedules solidified for at least a month after arriving in Prague. For me, this was a bit of a challenge as I like to have a schedule and stick to it. The courses at FAMU were very different than what I was used to as an art student studying at a Liberal Arts college. I signed up for 3 FAMU electives. None of them had specific assignments but were more spaces for students and their professors to come together to talk about their work and process. I think that is a great system if that is what you're used to it, however, as someone being thrown into these classes not knowing what to expect, it was difficult for me to understand what was expected of me. These classes did prove to be a great way to meet Czech students. It was also very interesting to take classes with FAMU professors as most, if not all of them, are successful photographers and teaching is more of a side gig. Therefore, I was introduced to a lot of well known artists and able to consult with them.

The living situation was terrific. Apartments were clean, furnished with the basic necessities and I had a great experience with my American roommates and my Czech buddy. My apartment was in Praha 7, a terrific neighborhood with easy transportation to the city center, several beautiful parks, great cafes and bars, and lots of art. I could not have asked for a better place to live.

Going abroad through CET was the best decision I have made throughout college. Not only has the staff been extremely supportive and friendly, they care a lot about us personally and our academic development. The traveling seminar opportunity in which CET takes us to Poland Austria and Hungary and plans a full itinerary was unparalleled; there was the perfect balance of academics, history, social events, adventure and free time. The program gives us a lot of independence, freedom, and leeway as well as providing the option for structured and set activities. To give two personal stories which showcase the staff's support and flexibility.

1) My first night in Prague I was having trouble acclimating to the environmental changes. Being that I am a severe asthmatic I asked if CET could change my sheets and blankets to be hypo-allergenic. Within 30 minutes of this request Maggie, the student coordinator had delivered a new sheet blanket and pillow set for me really speaking to the program's responsiveness and commitment to student comfort.

2) Not knowing the rich Jewish history within Prague and Eastern Europe more generally, I chose to go on the business track instead. Having learned of the depth and darkness of Jewish history in this country thereafter, I expressed my interest to the program leader as I explained that my grandfather was a Holocaust survivor and I wanted to learn more about my roots. Since expressing this interest, Petra, the coordinator, has accommodated for me to go on every Jewish event, tour, activity, guest lecturer which has truly enriched my experience here like no other. It has reshaped my Jewish identity and opened my eyes to so much. Thank you CET !

I studied abroad through CET Shanghai in Fall 2017. I had an amazing experience, learning a lot about the language and culture and truly growing as a person through my time there. There were three main aspects that I really loved about the program, being the language, internship, and local roommates.

My Chinese language skills grew immensely throughout my time abroad. I honestly don't think there's any better way to learn a language than to actually be immersed in the culture and have to speak it daily, which is exactly what I got in Shanghai. Though it was difficult at times, especially when you needed help or guidance from locals who spoke no English, I feel confident that my language would not be where it is without going to Shanghai.

The internship experience that I got through CET was amazing. I could not have asked for a better placement. My internship provided me with amazing responsibility, skill-growth, and networking opportunities. I'm still in touch with my supervisor and definitely think I could use him and other people I met through the internship in the future for job searches. Though I had an amazing experience with the internship, I must admit not everyone had quite the same experience, and it's definitely important to make sure your internship is a good fit for you once you get there.

The final aspect of CET Shanghai that I found awesome was the local roommates. My roommate (and pretty much every roommate in the program) was absolutely amazing. She was so sweet and totally let me see a side of China that I would not have seen otherwise. All of the roommates in the program were amazing and I think it definitely helped me to assimilate and enjoy my experience.

I was extremely happy with my time in CET and could not have asked for a better abroad experience. However, it is important to say that it was difficult at times. The culture in China is very different than in the US, and though you can find outlets, at some points I definitely felt like an outsider. CET does a great job supporting you, but it's important to go into the program with an open mind and an understanding that living in China is not easy and definitely takes a great deal of maturity and acceptance of the culture around you. That being said, I think it's totally doable for anyone with that mindset and is a great opportunity to learn about the world and about yourself.

The overall experience was excellent. The best part of the program was the people, followed by the location. Shanghai is a world hub that acts as one of the most interesting international cities in the world. While the nightlife in Shanghai is enough for the summer/semester, the options for travel in Southeast Asia are overwhelming. CET does a great job preparing its students for taking on the enigma that is Shanghai with its rigorous mandarin classes and other electives. Be prepared to get up early and work hard as the teachers hired by CET are no joke and have one goal in enhancing your Chinese whether you are a beginner or attempting fluency. If you are looking for a challenge and another option besides a typical European boondoggle, Shanghai could be the option for you.

I had a lot of fun during my time in Shanghai! I loved that this program had an internship because it gave me experience working internationally. I was able to work at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, working their social media accounts, which was really amazing. Going to the events and concerts was also a huge plus. CET Shanghai offers a lot of different companies and organizations to be a part of which I greatly appreciated. The weekend trips to a rural monastery plus Moganshan were great to bond with everyone and get out of the Shanghai bubble. I'd say that the faculty, especially Nova (gotta give a shoutout to her) went above and beyond for us. They helped us with the resident permit and all the necessary paperwork, as well as any other questions we may have had for them.
My classes were all really interesting and not too time-consuming (which is good because of the internship). My Chinese teacher was so nice and patient! I definitely improved over the weeks. My other classes (in English) were once a week which I wasn't used to but not complaining about. My teachers for those classes were very knowledgeable and I enjoyed the field trips that they took us on.
I think my semester got really lucky with the group of Chinese roommates. We all got along and it was so much fun to hang out with them. I still keep in touch with most of them to this day! Their English got so much better as the semester progressed.
As a gay woman, I was nervous going into the program. I knew Shanghai was better about LGBTQ+ people more than other provinces/cities in China, but I didn't know if I would get judgemental looks or something from people there. I was pleasantly surprised that I had nothing to worry about when I was there. Obviously, China isn't as open about the topic, but I think the Chinese students are curious about it if you give them a chance to talk about it.
I learned that the Chinese roommates are a lot more attentive to what goes on around the world, considering the censorship. It was cool to learn more about their culture and some sensitive topics and seeing how the roommates would react if we interviewed them about it.
Overall, I loved the program! I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to study abroad. Shanghai is a great place to explore, and if you're thinking of taking on a job in Shanghai what better way than to have an internship to see if it's right for you!

When looking at study abroad programs, I wanted something that provided both intensive language study and an internship experience. The three-part structure of CET Taiwan — language courses with ICLP, an internship tailored to your interests, and shared housing with both Taiwanese and international students — exceeded my expectations for study abroad programs, and the excellent CET faculty complemented the courses with their enthusiasm and support.

Even though I was the only student to attend the first CET Taiwan fall session, I found community in the other students in my share house and courses. ICLP is one of the best Mandarin language study facilities, and I shared classes with graduate students and professionals from countries like Sweden and Belgium. Capped at five students per class, the language courses are personalized and directly applicable to your conversations outside of the classroom. The CET internship class helped me organize my thoughts and experiences, teaching me new ways to record and reflect on my time in Taipei. My internship also helped me explore a new field of work that I came to love. I had not considered grant writing as a career before interning at Fulbright Taiwan, but now it's on my list of potential paths for the future.

Along with the coursework, the CET and ICLP excursions helped me connect with the culture and environment in Taipei. We visited the Qianggu ceremony in Yilan, biked all around Taipei, attended a children's performance of a play based on a famous comic book series, and much more. I encourage speaking with your CET coordinators; if you want to personalize your study abroad experience, they can help you find local events tailored to your interests.

I recommend practicing your speaking skills before you arrive; the ICLP classes focus on speaking and listening (you aren't allowed to use your textbook in the classroom). Planning some events and places to visit before you arrive will help you make the most of your time in Taipei; the time flies between studying and interning! Creating a schedule within the first couple weeks will help you, too; I found I was able to explore much more once I assigned certain times each week to studying, working, and wandering. The more you plan in advance, the more you'll be able to enjoy your time abroad!

My semester in Jordan was not my first time in Jordan-I had been twice for study abroad with my school the previous summers; however, this experience was unlike any other. CET offers 2 outlets which are important in learning a language, especially in a foreign country, which makes the program itself stand out from other study abroad programs: the language pledge and native roommates who live in the apartments. While the language pledge was frustrating at times, and also tempting to break when in our apartments or with our friends, it improved my Arabic skills the most and helped me become more confident in my speaking abilities. It always felt rewarding when I would explain a concept to someone, 100% in Arabic, and they understand almost entirely the ideas I was conveying. As for the or for my broken Arabic that they didn’t understand, we would discuss in Arabic until we were on the same page. It was also fun to engage with other students who were at different levels and help one another.
Living in the apartments with a Jordanian roommate also proved beneficial. In my past study-abroad experiences, I lived with close friends, so we did not speak Arabic as much as we could have; this past semester, I shared a room with my Jordanian roommate, which was an experience I loved more than I ever thought I would. There were nights where she and I would exchange stories about our family lives, our friends, or just funny experiences—all in Arabic, for hours.
As for the quality of our apartments, they were more than adequate and provided the amenities one would expect from a study abroad experience. Nothing too fancy and nothing too plain, our apartments came fully furnished and seemed more-or-less clean. Some apartments came with enough plates and utensils for all 3-4 roommates (maybe more than enough), while others came with not nearly enough. Some had pots and pants; others did not. The apartment is on top of a hill and is guarded; and with the directors living there as well, there was never any reason to feel unsafe. Having the directors in the same apartment complex as the students was more than beneficial: most students felt not only safe, but also reassured that help and advice—no matter the situation—were always just a few doors away.
The teachers were exceptional and always made sure that their students understood the material, and that no one felt behind in the class. They were always willing to meet at any time outside of class, for however long the student needed. The classes were small, which I liked—my class had 5 people including me—because it helped the students bond closely and encouraged active participation and, in turn, improved students’ Arabic skills through casual conversation. While we learned a lot of new vocabulary, we focused heavily on how to use these new terms, specifically in giving presentations in front of our classmates (rather than just constantly learn lists of words). We discussed issues that are important to Jordanian society and had many opportunities to go out and ask questions to students, who were hanging out in the streets between their classes, specifically asking about the topics we discussed in classes that day or week. We would come back to class and present on what we had just discussed with our new friends.
The trips and cooking days also served an important role in our learning. We would learn about the places we were going and give presentations on them with our newly expanded vocabulary and have the chance to discuss the sights and history of the places we visited with our friends, language partners, roommates, and teachers while exploring. The cooking days were my favorite; I was able to develop my culinary vocabulary, learn colloquial terms for food, and perfect authentic Jordanian dishes—all while laughing and having fun with my classmates. We would later share our dishes with other classes, and then teach them how to make the dish. There was constant engagement among the students, whether it manifested in the encouragement of others, helping others with homework, or sharing fun stories. There was never a dull day with CET.
I love CET for many reasons, but mostly because it gave me the confidence to speak and not be afraid to make mistakes.