Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Ich hab' mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren! Past Review

By (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Trinity University) - abroad from 05/25/2014 to 07/04/2014 with

Heidelberg University: Heidelberg - American Junior Year Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
More than anything else, my sense of independence and confidence improved. I went from feeling anxious about speaking with native Germans to delighting in conversation, from having legitimate fear of traveling by train to looking forward to eating German chocolate treats in a train cabin with my new friends on my way to Berlin or Cologne.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses were academically challenging, especially since all but beginning classes were taught exclusively in German. However, the program made tutors available twice a week, and as a Trinity student I did not find the classes unreasonably challenging.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration was clear, and there were always people willing to answer my questions in English.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Very satisfied--my host mother was pleasant with a beautiful apartment overlooking the Neckar river. I couldn't have asked for a better living situation.

* Food:

Excellent. The program supplies 40 euros for food each week, in addition to the meals supplied by host families. There were plenty of relatively cheap restaurants and cafes within walking distance of the learning center.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I would consider this one of the weaknesses of the program--because it was so short and because it was all American students, it was difficult to meet locals, aside from host families. On the other hand, I took the bus, ate at local restaurants, and was required to speak German virtually 24/7.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any health issues, but a friend of mine broke out in a rash her first week there, and a woman from the program took her to get proper medical treatment. English-speaking Germans are easily accessible, especially in the case of an emergency.

* Safety:

Extremely safe. I felt comfortable riding the bus or walking by myself. The people of Heidelberg take pride in their orderliness and low crime-rate.

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? 150 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? You don't need a chocolate muffin every day.

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

In the program building and with our host families, we were required to speak only German with both instructors and other students (though students frequently broke this rule, to their detriment), in order to provide as much immersion as possible.

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
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? Watch lots of videos--I found "Easy German" to be extremely helpful because it asks native Germans for their answers to simple questions, with subtitles in both English and German. Deutsche Welle, or www.dw.de, also has lots of resources for language learners of all levels, including international news read slowly in German and with a written version underneath.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • pretending to be a local
  • location in the middle of a quaint, historical, green, and very safe city
  • classes taught in German with native German professors
* What could be improved?
  • an opportunity to meet locals (especially students)
  • breaking away from a huddle of American students
  • classrooms with German students alongside American students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I should not have traveled every weekend. Some of the most memorable and amazing parts of my trip were the weekends that I stayed in my host city of Heidelberg and simply explored the city without my other American friends to deter me from talking to locals. After all, I will have many opportunities to travel in my lifetime, but very few to actually live in one place and act like a local--when in Heidelberg, do as the Heidelbergers do!

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!