ACTR; Why talk about problems in the open?

[Stephen Sandford]

Having participated in CIEE Saint Petersburg in the very recent past, I
applaud Dustin for putting these complaints out in public.  Choosing how to
study in Russia too often comes down to picking between two inferior
programs: ACTR and CIEE.  The lack of public information about these
programs is the central reason why they continue to dominate the field
despite their serious shortcomings.  Since returning to Russia and meeting,
as Dustin has, many students who are disillusioned with study abroad in
general thanks to these programs, I now recommend that, whenever possible,
students forgo these programs (and, usually, the ability to transfer
credits) and enroll directly, for example in SPGU's superb Center for
Russian Language and Culture.  The difference in costs between American
study abroad programs and direct enrollment simply cannot be justified at
present given the abysmal on-site administration of these programs.  (By way
of disclaimer, I believe CIEE now has a new RD, under whom things have
hopefully improved.)
-SGS

On Dec 2, 2007 11:19 PM, Paul B. Gallagher <paulbg at pbg-translations.com>
wrote:

> Josh Wilson wrote:
>
> > While I will be one of the first to point out that there are many viable
> > alternatives to ACTR in Russia - this conversation strikes me as a bit
> odd.
> >
> > Let's say you go to a restaurant with friends. One friend orders a
> steak.
> > When it comes, the friend complains the steak is cold. He tells the
> waiter
> > and gets a cursory answer, but no offer to rectify the situation.
> >
> > Do you a) attempt to contact the manager of the restaurant or b) stand
> up
> > and ask the rest of the customers in the restaurant how it could
> possibly be
> > that your friend was served a cold steak?
> >
> > I point this out only because I think more people should apply the
> sociology
> > and logic they apply to the "real world" to life online.
>
> Without attempting to guess what some people are thinking, I would point
> out that when customers cannot get satisfaction from a merchant, some
> will take the tack of publicizing the fact as a way of embarrassing the
> merchant and thereby increasing the pressure on him.
>
> I take no position on who is right in this situation; I merely point out
> one aspect of the "sociology and logic" of these situations.
>
> --
> War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
> --
> Paul B. Gallagher
> pbg translations, inc.
> "Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
> http://pbg-translations.com
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
>  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
>                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------