Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Study Abroad in Berlin Past Review

By (Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics., SUNY - Binghamton) for

FU-BEST: Berlin - European Studies Program

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

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+
The term and year this program took place: Fall 2009

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The grading was harsh, intense workload, lecture style teaching, but very comprable to American schools as can be seen in the syllabus.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

We <3 Marie!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Studio Apartment <br /><br /> Location was impractical for travel, lived in apartment complex with locals and students.

* Food:

cafeterias were good too

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

great students and student assistents

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

i always felt safe.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ca. 50-100 euro a week?
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? food was very cheap, so were drinks. travel is more expensive.

Language

Language acquisition improvement?

I had a high understanding of the language coming, so the language classes seemed a bit superfluous.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • 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? go for it if you are not very good at german, look into other programs if your german is at an advanced level.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Advanced German
Course Department: GERM XXX
Instructor: Marita Meyer
Instruction Language: German
Comments: Extremely harsh teacher, but good learning experience.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Berlin: History, Memory, Literature
Course Department: GERM XXX
Instructor: Marita Roth
Instruction Language: English
Comments: TONS of reading, but sweet professor. Wrote final paper in German.
Credit Transfer Issues: no.
Course Name/Rating:

Germany in the Contemporary European Perspective
Course Department: GERM XXX
Instructor: Dirk Verheyen
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Lots of reading, very informative, interesting assignments/papers.
Credit Transfer Issues: no.
Course Name/Rating:

European Modern Art
Course Department: GERM XXX
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Interesting, typical art history course with focus on Europe
Credit Transfer Issues: