Beautiful Berlin! Past Review
By Katy Mast (Texas Lutheran University) - abroad from 01/11/2016 to 05/10/2016 with
CIEE: Berlin - Open Campus Program
I learned that I could pass as a local in a different country where a different language is spoken.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorms were modern and spacious. Some rooms had 3 or four people, though, which is annoying for those wanting any sort of privacy. |
| * Food: |
No food is provided and although the kitchens were spacious, they were always dirty. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very connected to the community. CIEE did a great job of both bringing the community to us, in a sense, and also taking us out into the community. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The city forced me out of my comfort zone while still allowing me to feel safe. |
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) |
There was an issue with my bank account but it goes to show how cheap it was by considering that I lived off of about $300 for four weeks! Food was the only necessary expense and it was very inexpensive as compared to the US |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | By the end, maybe $100? |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save your money for trips! And go ahead and just buy the monthly U-bahn passes |
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 |
| 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? | The Beginner German class was intense but effective |
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? | I wish I had known how much I would miss 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. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Funky Berlin |
| Course Department: | Communications |
| Instructor: | Prof. Saroja |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This was the worst class that I have ever taken as a student. The professor was constantly belittling of students, past the point of constructive criticism. The assigned projects were changed randomly and without explanation and I do not feel as though I learned much of anything despite devoting an outrageous amount of hours outside of class attempting to complete the assigned projects. As students, we were threatened by the instructor not to report our issues to anyone in a higher position. I will say, however, that CIEE handled it well in that our voices were heard and our grades ended up alright. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
