American Students in Prague Didn't Care About Academics Past Review

By (Art History, Criticism and Conservation., University of Rochester) for

CIEE: Prague - Central European Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I feel more independent but I would not choose the same program again.

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.

Other students were on vacation and didn't git a s*** about class. They would come to class drunk or just skip class to travel a lot. The professors were really good for the most part and would spend time outside of class with me, but the classes were very general and survey-ish becuase that's what the other students wanted. I really felt like it was a wasted semester academicly.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were very ready to listen and provide support.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The dorm itself was fine. I didn't like having to turn my key in every time I left the building and getting in late at night was very hard. My cleaning lady was very very nice. I didn't enjoy living with the other Americans.

* Food:

Czech food is bad. It's under seasoned and over salted with little varity and almost no international element, but it's cheap.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I liked that we went on day trips around the country.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Very safe city crime wise.

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

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? $70-120
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? none

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? none
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

It helped me and I'm glad I had to take it, but again the other students didn't take it seriously.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Don't go if you don't plan on getting wasted 5 nights a week.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Modern Czech Art

Course Department: Art History
Instructor: Stefkova
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Course was to basic but the instructor was great and very willing to do things outside of class.
Credit Transfer Issues: yes
Course Name/Rating:

Theories and Realties of Gender

Course Department: Gender Studies
Instructor: Blanka
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Great course and instructor! Learned a lot about feminism.
Credit Transfer Issues: Yes.