Getting my bearings in Be(a)rlin for the Summer Past Review
By David M (International Studies—European Focus, Trinity University) - abroad from 05/30/2011 to 07/08/2011 with
ISA Study Abroad in Berlin, Germany
The best experience of my life, far better than Vienna. My fellow students were incredibly warm and friendly, nothing like the Vienna students. The class I took was great too. Incredibly worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Great resources, and I learned a lot and the workload wasn't too bad. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Great administration, couldn't have asked for better. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with a German host family and they were awesome. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very much a part of the local culture and more comfortable in the German culture than Viennese culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never had any problems. |
| * Safety: |
I always felt very safe in Berlin, never had any problems. |
| 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) |
Very easy, since I didn't have to buy food or groceries. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Maybe 50 euros per week. |
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? | 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? | Elementary German I & II |
| 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? | Live with a host family and speak the language of the country in which you're living. This is the only real way to learn it; by using it in its everyday context. You can take a foreign language class anywhere, but only in certain places does everyone speak the language. |
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? | Nothing. |
