Min Dansk Hjemme (My Danish Home) Past Review
By Cassandra R (Family and Consumer Sciences, Berea College) - abroad from 01/16/2015 to 05/21/2015 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I learned from my study abroad experience that this world is so much bigger than what we think. I learned that home does not have to be where you grew up, but where you feel comfortable and welcomed. I learned that if you show appreciation for another culture or society, they will likely welcome and appreciate you as well. Studying abroad taught me that the United States is not the greatest country on Earth and we should care about our citizens' well being more than what is currently being done. I would say it was one of the best experiences of my life so far and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to study abroad.
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? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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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
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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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $20 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Book hostels and flights early, have an ISIC card and use it!, take advantage of your homestay if in one and eat with your host family when you can. |
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 |
My Danish instructor was the best with integration and cultural field trips. She encouraged us to go order our food in Danish when we went out to eat, use our language from the semester to create a Danish scrapbook, and pushed the Child Development students to use an expanded Danish vocabulary when working in the Danish schools. |
| 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? | None |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Download a Danish app before you leave! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | How amazing the opportunity was and that I could study for a full academic year there. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
