Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Czeching out new cultures, and loving it Past Review

By (PSYCHOLOGY., University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse) - abroad from 08/28/2012 to 12/15/2012 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Prague, Czech Republic

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was completely worthwhile. I loved every minute of it. I feel like I understand a new culture, even though it is very similar to my own, it is very different as well.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The college itself had limited resources, but CEA made up for it in their own offices which were made available to students. Some classes were more intense than others, depending mostly on the teachers and their level of English.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

CEA did a fabulous job on-site. Everyone was so helpful and nice. It was great.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Despite the lack of kitchen supplies my apartment had, it was easily the best apartment I'll ever live in.

* Food:

It was extremely cheap to buy food at grocery stores, and it was reasonable to eat out. There's a lot of different types of food available in Prague, and I highly recommend utilizing the Vietnamese grocery stores.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

CEA did a great job easing us into the culture and we had a good amount of time between arriving and the start of classes.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I personally did not need any health care, but I do know a couple of people that did, and it was a struggle sometimes to be covered properly.

* Safety:

I felt very safe in Prague. However, it is a big city and you have to be smart. Don't go anywhere alone at night. One of my friends was robbed at knife point when she left a club alone. The night trams are very reliable and safe. As long as you aren't alone, you'll be fine.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

I spent about $15 to $20 a week on food. It was very easy to live on a cheap budget. I spent about $2500 the entire four months I was there - including travel during my breaks.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

A class was available to learn Czech, but it was a school where all the classes were taught in English. Outside of school, most people spoke at least a little bit of English, so it was very difficult to use the language, especially because they would resort to English upon seeing you struggle with Czech.

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
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Use it. Even if people try to speak English upon hearing you fail at whatever language, keep trying.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Helpfulness of staff
* What could be improved?
  • Kitchen supplies
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Use the language. It helps you learn 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 Adventurer
The 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.