Study Abroad in Germany: The Experience of a Lifetime Past Review

By (Texas Lutheran University) - abroad from 08/21/2018 to 12/17/2018 with

IES Abroad: Freiburg - European Union: Politics, Law & Economics

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to have confidence in not knowing everything. And by learning this, I know that there is SO much more to learn. And the people who you learn with make it all worthwhile.

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.

It was a very focused program. Yet, it was fascinating nonetheless

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Like any program, there were some issues. Just make sure that if there is a problem, you keep speaking up about it so it cant be overlooked.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved my housing. I was lucky to be close to town center!

* Food:

Of course the food was wonderful, it Germany!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Because the program travels so much, it was hard to feel integrated.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

It was very on top of the safety of the students.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

This is exactly what I want to do with my life. Travel and learn about other cultures.

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)

It is hard to keep up with, but if you try really hard to stay on top of it, it is manageable.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around 45 to 50 Euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make sure you make a flexible budget. Something that can fluctuate easily in either directions. This will help with stress

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? Beginner
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? 131
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? Practice with the people around you. And do not be afraid to make a mistake. This will only help you to get better!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The People
  • The Traveling
  • The Location
* What could be improved?
  • Stress Level
  • Perspective on the Workload
  • Breaks in School
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Just how focused on politics the program is. It is all politics basically, just fyi.