Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Die besten drei Monaten meines Lebens Past Review

By (German, International Studies, University of Wisconsin - Madison) - abroad from 09/07/2011 to 12/16/2011 with

IES Abroad: Freiburg - Environmental Studies & Sustainability

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much- about Germany, the German language, and most importantly, about myself. I challenged myself on a daily basis, and yes, sometimes it was scary, but it was so worthwhile. I may not have returned home a fluent speaker, but I did come back with not only better German skills but also a great appreciation for the world on a global scale. My experience abroad greatly increased my awareness of the world around me.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses were challenging because, of course, they were in German; the workload was not overwhelming until the end of the semester when all papers and projects were due. That being said, everything was manageable. The professors, however, made every effort to make sure we were always understanding the concepts. I definitely learned a lot not only about the German language but also about many aspects of German culture and history.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program administrators at IES were so wonderful and helpful. They were there every step of the way to make sure your experience was the best it could be.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing situation was really awesome because we were all scattered throughout the city in university neighborhoods where we not only got to meet German and other international students, but we also had the opportunity to explore more of the city because our friends lived elsewhere.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Staying for only a semester made it hard to get to know a lot about the culture and the people, especially since the university in Freiburg does not begin until mid-end of October, so a lot of the student life didn't pick up until we'd been there for a few weeks. That being said, IES offered a "tandem partner" program, which allowed you to be paired up with a German student at the university and meet up, do things together and speak German!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No

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

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? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Intermediate German (second semester)
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
* 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?
  • Living the German culture
  • Traveling
  • Speaking German
* What could be improved?
  • Amount of German spoken
  • Length of time abroad (longer!)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That everyone is scared when they go abroad! It's not easy for anyone, but the important thing is to just put yourself out there, step out of your comfort zone and go for it!

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!