Prague really is the most beautiful city in the world! Jewish Studies Program Past Review
By Molly P (Religion/Religious Studies., University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill) - abroad from 08/23/2012 to 12/14/2013 with
CET Prague
Personally, this experience gave me confidence in my ability to handle new and unfamiliar situations. It also showed me that living abroad is something I want to do again in the future, and hope to do soon! Academically, the program challenged me to think about Jewish history and lived experience in new ways. Overall I learned more about Central-Eastern Europe than I ever had before. Both in and out of the classroom, I gained knowledge and perspective that contribute to my studies of religion and history. The program was absolutely worthwhile!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors are very knowledgeable, and the subject matter is fascinating because it is so focused on the region of Central Europe. The program does an excellent job of integrating classroom study with opportunities to learn through travel around the region and field trips in Prague. The classes were not highly demanding, but you get out of them what you put into them. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The CET staff in Prague is great and always there for support! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in an apartment in New Town, right near Wenceslaus Square and the heart of the city. It was very close to the CET building and lots of public transportation. It was a cozy home for the semester! |
| * Food: |
The program doesn't provide food, but the food in Prague is absolutely delicious! Czech food, from svickova to gulas, is great Central European comfort food. Prague is a cosmopolitan city, so you can also find all types of other food. Grocery stores are pretty conveniently located all around and cheap! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Each apartment has a "Czech buddy", which is really helpful and a great feature of the program! I wish I could have learned more Czech so that I could have felt even more integrated, but if you take initiative and explore on your own and try to speak Czech, it really pays off. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
N/A |
| * Safety: |
I felt safe at all times in the city |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
The cost of living in Prague is pretty cheap, especially food |
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? | None |
| 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? | My advice would be to explore the countryside outside of Prague, where people are less likely to speak English. I did that one day on my own and spoke nothing but Czech all day! It was challenging and rewarding. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | That I should not have been nervous at all! Navigating the city (and everywhere else I traveled), making lasting friendships, and feeling at home were all much easier than I thought. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
