A true look into another perspective on life Past Review
By A student (Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 09/05/2016 to 12/06/2016 with
AIFS: Berlin – Freie University
I gained a confidence I didn't have before. Every day I was in a culture different from mine and had to overcome the obstacles of language and cultural barriers. Ultimately, I learned not only about other cultures, but about myself; in particular, my ability to take a challenge head on, and be a better person because of it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Great people. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Comfortable living arrangements, great location. |
| * Food: |
Plenty of restaurants and good grocery stores for shopping. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Extremely safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Everything went seamlessly. Great program, had everything taken care of for me. My classes were great, and my location was amazing. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $125 or so, not including travel expenses |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save up now! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | No prior German experience |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Put in the work! Super rewarding to learn bits of the language and start understanding the signs, newspapers, and local television around you. It really helps with making you feel more integrated into the culture. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | School was not easy! I had to work, but I loved the classes so much, it was worth it. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
