Awesome! Past Review
By A student (Management, The College of New Jersey) - abroad from 08/23/2013 to 12/21/2013 with
European Study Center: Heidelberg - Study Abroad in the EU
I learn to except obstacles and find new ways around them. This experience was worthwhile to me, even after a few bumps in the road!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes are a joke compared to TCNJ's classes and its obvious the educational difference between the students from TCNJ and not from TCNJ. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Most staff is helpful but can be rude. Even though we signed a contract when we first got here, the rules have changed a million times and have become stricter and stricter as time moves on. Mr. Leibrecht (he owns the building) is awesome and is the chillest person here. He puts on a great atmosphere and genuinely wants us to have a good time! |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Rooms are spacious for us but the kitchen is small for the number of people who live all. All in all, cool building! |
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Its very hard to integrate with the local culture being so far removed from the University. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Never felt unsafe in the city even at night |
| 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) |
Very easy if you budget. buy beer from store, overpriced at bar |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 40 euros max |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Figure out a budget and try to stick with it, but don't be afraid to move it around to incorporate trips around Europe! |
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? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate German (270?) |
| 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? | Don't be afraid to speak it even if the locals answer in English! |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had known I was going to be monitored like a 5-year old. That puts a damper on things especially when I've lived off campus and paid my own rent for the past two years. I wish I had known that people were going to answer me in English when I tried to speak German. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Organizational Beahvior |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Mark Teachout |
| Instruction Language: | |
| Comments: | My favorite class abroad! Its challenging and moves at a great pace and the professor uses real life examples to supplement the the lessons. Best class I've taken thus far in college! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Culturology |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Mark Teachout |
| Instruction Language: | |
| Comments: | This class is awesome. I love the topic and the professor teaches in an open forum where students aren't afraid to speak out. We each pick a different country to study and that has helped learn not only the culture we are in, but also an entirely different culture. Overall, great class! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Experiential Learning |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Serena Bahe |
| Instruction Language: | |
| Comments: | This class is insulting to a college-level intelligence. We do not need these middle school lessons but could use more practical lessons on German culture. These classes are painful and need to be addressed. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
