New Freedoms, New Responsibilities, New Perspectives Past Review
By Alexandra E (International Relations/German, Austin College) - abroad from 02/25/2013 to 07/13/2013 with
IES Abroad: Berlin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
A different view of life. I'm from a small town in Texas. Berlin is one of the few places that just about anyone can fit in because no one is the same. I've never really experienced that before. It was worthwhile.
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 |
All of the staff are amazing and extremely helpful people |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Very satisfied. The homestay was awesome, and it was made clear to me that if I'd had problems, they would not hesitate to move me. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Germany is difficult to integrate in. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Berlin is very safe, as long as you keep your wits about you. |
| 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? | 100 Euros a week or so with everything included |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Shop for your self, and remember that drinking and going out is expensive. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 495- Senior seminar |
| 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? | Make friends with people outside of the program who don't speak English as well, or are uncomfortable speaking it. Push through it even when it hurts your brain. It gets much worse before it gets better. |
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? | Everything will be fine, but German bureaucracy sucks. |
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.' |
