Independence and Respect for Self Past Review

By A student (PSYCHOLOGY., Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/17/2014 to 12/14/2014 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

-I learned about a new culture and society, which gave me perspective on where and how I live -I learned to be even more independent that I already was -I learned how to ask for help when needed -It was worthwhile

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?	I lived in the sketchiest housing arrangement in DIS. Hoffmann's Minde Kollegium should probably be reevaluated as a place to house DIS students.
* Food:	Expensive.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	Healthcare was easy to figure out. I got tonsillitis while abroad and the directions were made very clear about where to go, how to get medicine, etc. The only real difference that was frustrating was that it took them 5 days for them to tell me I needed antibiotics when I came in knowing that on my initial visit.
* Safety:	Keep to yourself on public transportation, and when walking around at night, be with a friend if you can.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

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)	In order to experience the local cuisine and restaurants, it was expensive to go out to eat and to experience the nightlife as well.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$100+
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Be savvy about bringing your own lunch.

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?	Middlebury does not offer any Danish classes
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?	Ask Danes at bars to help you with pronunciation. They will appreciate you trying to speak their language and it is an easy way to make Danish friends.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Other
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Ability/freedom to travel Visiting family program CDD Practicum
* What could be improved?	Clarification about housing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	How expensive the food is, fun bars to go out that aren't full of Americans

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 Adventurer The 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:	Danish Language and Culture
Course Department:	Danish
Instructor:	Christina
Instruction Language:	English and Danish
Comments:	I loved this class. I think that learning Danish is important to one's immersion. I really enjoyed learning about the history and culture.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Children with Special Needs
Course Department:	Child Development and Diversity
Instructor:	Kari
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This class caused me to think about special needs in a completely different perspective. I learned a lot in this class, especially about schooling in a Scandinavian context. I enjoyed the small class size and discussions.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Practicum
Course Department:	Child Development and Diversity
Instructor:	Kari
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	I really valued my experience in a Danish kindergarten every week. It connected what I learned in the classroom about the Danish school system with the actual school system. I was able to see how the kids interacted with the freedom the environment created.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	History of Copenhagen: Structure, Plan, Design
Course Department:	History/Urban Planning
Instructor:	Carsten
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	I highly recommend this class. Learning about the history of a city while living in the city is extremely valuable and enjoyable. The professor is passionate, and what you learn is also applicable to other European cities.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	The Enemy Within: Spies and Espionage in the Cold War
Course Department:	Political Science
Instructor:	Jon Kyst, Torben Jørgensen
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The class discussions were interesting, but there was no organization to the class. There was barely a syllabi, and we did not have proper work to reflect our effort in the class.
Credit Transfer Issues: