Czech Republic: An eye-opening place where an amazing cultural experience awaits! Past Review
By Jessica H (International business, University of South Carolina - Columbia) for
CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Summer in Prague - University of Economics
Yes; I learned not only a lot about the Czech culture but also a lot about the French way of life (there were a lot of french people in my group) and even places like Belarus. This experience changed my perspective on a lot of different things, and has made me appreciate other countries even more so. I want to explore more countries that tend to be "less traveled!"
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. |
I was pleasantly surprised by the teaching style in Prague. Both of my professors taught in their own style but it was wonderful- it was an educational dialogue passing back and forth between student and teacher and I got so much more out of the courses in this way. The grading system was not difficult as long as I put forth the effort; while the rating was different I just did my best, which ended up working out in my favor because I got an A in both of my courses. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The host country program was great. I met a lot of different people from different nationalities through this program, and I really appreciated meeting a Czech Buddy who was able to help me accommodate to such a different country. The only frustration I had was the dorm faculty who could not communicate with the English-speaking students. We had many frustrations because of the lack of a common language, and very few Czech-speaking students were at the dorm because of Summer break. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I liked that the dorm was close to a tram stop which took us within minutes to the city centre. I felt safe, but did not like that we had to buy our own ethernet cable- why doesn't the dorm have wi-fi for college students? There was no cookware although there was a kitchenette.. but the exchange rate is very favorable and there were some students who went out to buy their own dishes (the dorms are within walking distance to a major grocery store). The dorm exterior wasn't that pretty, but I didn't really care. It was frustrating that the staff didn't speak English. |
| * Food: |
There is a great Italian restaurant close to the dorms and there are a lot of good food places near the University. The quality of food for the price was marvelous. Czech food is very heavy and good to try once, but after a while you will want something different. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Amazing!!! I especially enjoyed our planned weekend excursion to Moravia- we went to a wine-tasting place that was so much fun! Additionally, the international students all got closer through the planned trip; there was one night that we all went to a bowling alley/pizzaria and had the time of our lives!! I loved it. I'm still friends with the people that I got close to from that trip. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Prague is a popular place to watch out for pickpocketers. Also do not travel the trams and metros alone by yourself at night. A lot of homeless people also tend to loiter so just be smart. I didn't need health attention and I do not recall anyone else in my program needing attention either. |
| 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) |
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Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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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? | As soon as you arrive in the Czech Republic and settle down in the dorm room, you will want to cry. Czech is a very different language from all of the others Americans might have encountered in the past. Hold out though. Take the observations you gather and turn them into appreciations for what you have in America. And take advantage of the great exchange rate!! The type of student who is willing to try new things. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
IP_347 |
| Course Department: | International Marketing Communications with the Emphasis on Central Europe |
| Instructor: | Petr Kral |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This course was neat because my emphasis in my major is in marketing. In my classes back at home, we do not normally talk about marketing in central Europe which is actually quite different than in places such as France. I learned a lot through his multiple examples and his interactive lessons. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
IP_345 |
| Course Department: | International Trade in the Global Enviornment |
| Instructor: | Ludmila Sterbova |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | The course was interesting. I found the European perspective on international trade to be fascinating and beneficial to me as I pursue my career in International Business. I enjoyed the final debate also; it helped pull everything we learned in the course together and I am still to this day able to retain what we discussed during that class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
