Past Review
By Quinn W (Hydrogeology/ Environmental Geology, The University of Texas at Austin) for
IES Abroad: Berlin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
Yes I would say this was worthwhile. Getting to further my German has helped me tremendously. I want to move back now so it has left me wanting more. The studies are good and help get you interacting with the city. It is a worldly city and you get to understand European and World views better.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Workload was high in some classes while low in others. It depended on which ones you took. The teachers know what American schools are like so it is Americanized. Grading system was that of americans (i.e. 100-90=A 89-80=B...). |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program coordinator was very involved and the other workers were always available for consultation. Their access to local knowledge was shared with the students and were all social with us. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in Wilmersdorf which is in western Berlin. I was right off the U-Bhf (train station) Spichernstr. The lady I lived with was very nice and I really enjoyed living with her. We are still in contact now. She showed me some local places and also cooked traditional dishes and offered to let me eat with her a few times. She also took me to a Concert at the Philharmoniker. <br /><br /> The only problem with the area i lived in is that it was primarily a nicer, more elegant neighborhood. The younger crowd tended to go out in the eastern area so if I wanted to go out I would usually have to take a 30 min subway ride. Living in Wilmersdorf did allow me to see what it was like in an area that I probably would not have seen had I lived in the East. It was also very easy to get to the U-Bhf, and to get to school. |
| * Food: |
Easy, Cheap, Fantastic. You will love it if you like meat and potatoes. Enough said. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Trips to St. Petersberg and Paris are included in the program. Week long each and your take classes in their universities in those locations. It is nice because food is provided and there is also lots of free time to explore the city. There are also optional field trips around Berlin and to Dresden. They really do it right and have worked out all the kinks in the program (if there were any). |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I got sick once and just went to a pharmacy and got medicine for a common cold. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The volcano eruption in Iceland really caused some problems while traveling around europe. Otherwise it was up to each person how much they wanted to travel. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 2nd semester first year German |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I stayed with a host and so that helped. I tried to use it when I could be almost everyone you encounter speaks a little english so they prefer to use that if you struggle with your German. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Berlin is a funky city with all different types of entertainment. It was the best city I visited and also my friends who visited me always said they were jealous. It is much cheaper in Berlin than in Barcelona and Paris. |
