Es war toll! (It was great!) Past Review
By A student (Augsburg University) - abroad from 06/05/2018 to 07/20/2018 with
IES Abroad: Berlin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I learned a lot. It was great to be in a situation where you could make mistakes and learn from them in very real-life scenarios. Studying abroad you kind of get thrown into a new environment and learn how to adapt and make the most of the experience.
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. |
I had class every day (German language) and a history course a few days a week. The classes got us out of the classroom and we spent a lot of time going to cafes, museums, and walking around really immersing ourselves in the culture. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It was really easy to talk with the administration at the program. They were always available and around on campus and had no problem coming up and asking us how things were going. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My living arrangement was perfect. My host parents were very attentive to my dietary restrictions (Kosher) and learned a lot about it before I had even arrived in their house so they could tell me which places in our neighborhood I could eat. They made a point to speak mostly German at home so I could practice and were always available for me to talk. |
| * Food: |
The food was amazing and so inexpensive. Before I left I figured I would break my bank account in Berlin, but food really is cheap and Edeka came to the rescue on a lot of days when I needed a quick snack. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very much a part of my community and neighborhood. I got involved in the local synagogues and other groups during my time there. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Thankfully I didn't need to deal with healthcare too much during my program, but I did have a lot of time trying to find medicine for my peers in the program. This was a great way of practicing more German and also learning more about the healthcare system in Germany. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safe the entire time during my program. I felt comfortable taking the U-bahn late at night, walking around, and traveling across the country on the ICE train. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I studied abroad with IES Abroad Summer 2018 in Berlin and can't say enough good things about the program. It was definitely life changing. IES staff were great every step of the way as I navigated getting into courses that I needed, getting medication to Germany, and applying for financial aid. The host family with they paired me with was wonderful and quickly become like another family to me. All the stress that goes into studying abroad was quickly relieved by how well they support students. |
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) |
Definitely a 5 |
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 |
Frequent usage. Listening to German music, podcasts, watching German TV, reading German books and magazines. |
| 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 |
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 how hard it would be to leave once the program was done. |
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.' |
