One of my main goals from this program was focusing on Mandarin study, and my professor was incredibly helpful, supportive, and overall a great teacher. I felt that my Mandarin reading, writing, and speaking skills increased a lot. The IFSA staff were also extremely helpful and I enjoyed all of the excursions and field trips we went on. I got to learn so much about many different aspects of China through the field trips and the core sociology course everyone on the 21st Century track had to take. In terms of living in Shanghai, it was extremely easy to get around the city, and the food was amazing, but it was a bit hard to get to know people who weren't fellow American college students in the program.

I think that, overall, the experience of studying abroad doe a lot more than just offer a rewarding academic experience. In addition to that, it offers students the ability to gain cultural awareness as well as mature and become more independent. As students who choose to go abroad will be immersed in a culture and language very different from that of their home country, the challenging experience helps one to become more culturally aware and also develop the tools to think critically.

I think that the most beneficial feature of this program is how it helps students to become more engaged in academic opportunities and cultural events around campus. The academic experience helped me to gain new perspectives on topics that I learned at my college in the US which helped to enhance my overall understanding of certain global economic,political, and diplomatic issues.

My time in Shanghai was full of unique experiences and fun memories! It was the perfect mix of learning and adventure. Being able to explore the city while learning about the culture and history of China deepened and expanded my experience even more. The IFSA staff were supportive and always willing to help students navigate life in China. I had incredible opportunities like an internship with a local non-profit, an organized trip to western provinces, and guided adventures around the city to museums and other historical sites.

My time in Shanghai went by much faster then I thought it would! I got travel quite a bit throughout China as well as Southeast Asia. My classes were interesting and not too demanding. My Chinese language classes were extremely helpful and fun. The IFSA office members did an excellent job of supporting me and helping me get the most out of my experience. The IFSA directors helped me and my friends plan a trip to Hong Kong, which was an absolutely amazing trip! I made several friends within the program most of whom I am still in contact with to this day. The program offers students several opportunities to get immersed into the city of Shanghai which helps students adjust to Chinese culture. Overall, I enjoyed my time in Shanghai and I definitely think that the program is worth it!

As a sociology student, I am constantly amazed by society and the varying cultures within a community. I was able to attend classes within the university district which also presented me with the ability to meet other international students. I was able to serve a non-profit organization as a grant writer which was one of the best parts of my time in China. My internship allowed me to meet so many people from all over China and our one-week field trip to Yünnan furthered my understanding of diversity in the country. There were several cultural activities including calligraphy and martial arts classes. My time abroad couldn't have been better rounded. I was learning about social structures in China, meeting people from different walks of life, and engaging with different cuisines, music, and cultural practices which gave me a holistic understanding of Shanghai/China. The program would not have been the same without all the support of the IFSA staff and our language teachers!

My study abroad experience has fueled my desire to continue learning Mandarin and aspirations of serving communities in need, both domestically and abroad while reemphasizing the value of intercultural agility.

The time I spent in Shanghai is an experience I will never forget for all the best reasons. The support staff was amazing and without them in those first few weeks we would have all been totally lost. They supported us when we needed it , but also didn't coddle us allowing us to explore and adjust on our own. They were absolutely amazing and I can't speak highly enough of them! The neighborhood that we lived in was wonderful and allowed s to experience Shanghai as well as practice our Chinese daily. All of the excursions really allowed me to grow closer to the other people on the program and experience so many new things. This trip introduced to some of the most amazing people and I grew so much. I would highly recommend this program if your looking for an amazing experience.

First, I participated in this program when it was at Fudan, and was a more general language and culture program, but this seems to be the current incarnation of it. My third day there I was diagnosed with acute appendicitis, and had to have emergency surgery, alone, thousands of miles away from home. I was terrified and overwhelmed. The resident director, despite having a large group of students under his charge, stayed by my side that whole first evening when I was in pain and when I went into surgery. He eased my mother's fears over the phone. He came everyday to keep me company in the hospital while I recovered, and made sure that I was incorporated into the group when I was discharged. I was so touched by the personal attention and care the staff showed toward me and my family. It inspired me.

Otherwise, the program was pretty good. The language class was challenging and always in the target language. My chinese improved significantly. The culture classes were interesting, but sometimes tended toward really long lectures (one on Friday afternoons). Still I learned a great deal. The trips, especially to western China along the Silk Road were transformative. How else would I have had the opportunity to see the Dunhuang caves, or talk to a Kazakh gentleman in Chinese about American politics?

Overall, I have no regrets at all about participating in this program. It was fantastic and I highly recommend it.

My favorite part about this program is that you are given a Chinese roommate - mine became a very close friend, and hanging out with her improved my Chinese skills more than anything else could have!

I loved this study abroad program so much that I returned the following summer to intern in Shanghai - and all of my closest friends that summer were people who had studied with the Alliance the semester AFTER me! We didn't overlap at all, but the Chinese roommates were the same the whole year and connected us, creating a half-Chinese half-foreign social group that was the thing that made my summer great.