Studying abroad does not improve language skills but only wastes money
Before dishing out thousands of dollars, check out the real story behind study abroad brochures.
COMMENTARY
David Reese

I arrived at the airport in Mexico City on May 24, 2002, with other TCU students. I thought I was fully prepared to have my first experience abroad because I had put my full trust and, more importantly, money into TCU and its International Educationoffice.

We were there for the “TCU-En-Mexico” program at the Universidad de las Americas in the city of Cholula, in the state of Puebla.

During the spring semester, our program advisor, Donald Frischmann and the TCU Education Abroad Coordinator, Tracy Williams had two meetings with the group about the program and travel to a different country. This is where my issue begins.

During the meetings, Frischmann and Williams presented a beautiful picture of the program and the country. The program is promoted as an immersion program into the Spanish language and culture of Mexico.

I definitely learned about the Mexican culture but immersion into the language was a joke. While many of the store and street vendors did not speak English, the campus where we stayed had numerous Mexicans who wanted to speak English.

We lived in a Tom Brown/Pete Wright apartment style setting with eight males in a suite. Of the eight men: four were French, three were Mexicans and I was the lone U.S. citizen. I went to Mexico to speak Spanish, but those around me spoke French.

During one activity in the dormitories, “Fiesta Mexicana,” what we at TCU would call an “All Hall” program, no Mexicans other than resident assistants were invited to participate.

During those spring meetings at TCU, we were told that there were tons of places to go, right off campus within walking distance ... yeah, right.

According to the TCU-En-Mexico packet, we are told to bring $500 extra cash for expenditures. I spent almost $200 of that money on taxi fares because there was only one decent restaurant near campus.

In the meetings, we were informed that we would only be given breakfast and lunch four days a week. Since classes began so early, it was hard to make it across campus to the cafeteria for breakfast. I think I ate four breakfasts out of the 24 that were provided.

During the weekends, we had the option of going on trips to places like Acapulco, Vera Cruz, Oaxaca and Teotihuacan. These trips had to be paid for by us and varied in prices from $40 to $180 Because of our other expenses, these should have been included in the program fee.

Before we got onto the plane, I had spent $3,180 in tuition and fees plus approximately $2,500 on the program fee. That is $5,680 before a plane ticket, food, gifts and taxi rides. The grand total for everything was almost $7,000 for six weeks.

I paid a lot of money and the whole truth about the trip was not presented to me in any pamphlet or meeting. And I cannot speak Spanish much better than before I left.

The International Education office should know that it must make sure things are clear before people pay the money. And for students thinking about studying abroad, make sure you get straight answers out of everyone before you ship yourself to a foreign country.

News Editor David Reese is a senior news-editorial journalism and speech communication major from Oceanside, Calif.