Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Jewish History Program in Prague June 26, 2024

By (English, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/17/2024 to 05/16/2024 with

CET Prague

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes! Lots of knowledge, great history writing skills, friends, understanding of the region, communism, Jewish life pre- and post-war

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I'd like to 1) not take the czech language class 2) not be so surrounded by Americans and my small program group

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 80
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? No... but Prague was pretty reasonably priced compared to my friends in the UK and Spain!

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

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? n/a
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • travelling seminar component
  • Jewish studies cohort
  • history courses
* What could be improved?
  • no more mandatory czech language!
  • more scaffolding for prague integration/city understanding
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Classes will be demanding. But the good ones are worth it! Mandatory language will be a drag. CET is very strict about attendance. Most program participants travel nearly every weekend. But you don't have to -- Prague is wonderful and cheap!

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 Linguist
You 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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Berlin, Vienna, Prague & Budapest: A Political & Cultural History (1848-1939)
Course Department: History
Instructor: Gaelle Vassogne
Instruction Language: English
Comments: challenging, well-taught, tours, great research paper at the end
Credit Transfer Issues: n/a
Course Name/Rating:

Franz Kafka and Central European Literature
Course Department: Literature
Instructor: Jan Pospíšil
Instruction Language: English
Comments: not terribly demanding, but lots of reading, interesting class conversation
Credit Transfer Issues: n/a
Course Name/Rating:

Beginning Czech Language
Course Department: Language
Instructor: Kateřina Macíková
Instruction Language: English/Czech
Comments: I didn't want to learn all the irregulars etc for a language I would never know or speak... I wish CET didn't requie this class -- czech is too difficult to learn in 4 months. Instead I wish they';d had a "100 important phrases crash course" or something more practical.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Modern History of the Jews in East Central Europe
Course Department: History
Instructor: Daniela Bartáková
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I liked this course very much. Rigorous enough, intense interesting field trips, good class discussion, knowledgable professor.
Credit Transfer Issues: n/a
Course Name/Rating:

Resistance & Dissent: Punk and Alternative Culture from Nazism to Communism in the Czech Lands
Course Department: History
Instructor: Pavla Jonssonova
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Not terribly rigorous, but lots of great field trips and excursions. I liked this class a lot, and a good break against my other more demanding courses.
Credit Transfer Issues: n/a