An incredible international experience in every form. Past Review
By jason i (Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics., Nebraska Wesleyan University) - abroad from 09/01/2011 to 07/26/2012 with
ISEP Exchange: Hannover - Exchange Program at Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
So much. Friends from around the world. A new perspective on both the world and my own country. Much more as well. It was unbelievably worthwile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
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 |
They were all friendly and helpful, however they international coordinators traveled often (I presume for business reasons in most cases) and it would be a long time before an appointment could be set up. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
It was a shock the first month that we would have to wait for the second month to start before receiving the ISEP stipend. That could have been better communicated to us as we had to pay out of pocket for things the first month and be reimbursed a month later. |
| * 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? | I traveled a lot so it would have been high. I can't give a real estimate, however it was more than most students. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook more at home instead of eating out |
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? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Equivalent of a 302 level German Course |
| 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? | Refuse to speak English. A problem I had as a native English speaker was that many Germans attempted to switch to English in order to practice their skills. It didn't mean that their English was better than my German. Quite the Contrary actually. They don't mean anything by this- they just want to practice. However this becomes too much after a while and you need to be forceful sometimes about practicing the host language. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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 really. I don't feel I should have known anything else. The process is about having assumptions going into the experience, and learning firsthand how everything really is. |
