Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Challenges and Rewards come in all Shapes and Sizes Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 10/01/2019 to 02/07/2020 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Mainz

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained intercultural perspective, only attainable through trust and foreign language use.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes and concepts were challenging and the reading was challenging. I could have used more structure to study more often.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I had no problems

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Clean, quiet, comfortable, private, and it was easy for me to get to campus and my classes.

* Food:

I received no financial aid for food, when I do normally at Middlebury College.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I played Frisbee and made some Uni friends, but there was little community engagement.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I broke my arm, my tutor went to the doctor's office with me and was very helpful. I then was fully reimbursed by GeoBlue which was very important.

* Safety:

I felt very safe, even at night.

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

I liked the city and my classes a lot.

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)

I ate cheaply but the rent was a bit expensive.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100 (rent+food)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy in bulk at the beginning of the semester

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? Advanced
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? GRMN0300
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Speak to the other program members in the language, even if you have another common language.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
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 classes
  • Babel Guide
  • The city
* What could be improved?
  • Community engagement
  • Lecture class tutoring structure
  • Program involvement
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It's hard to make meaningful relationships in a different language for only one semester. Get in touch with the other international students.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Wiener Moderne
Course Department: Germanistik
Instructor: Yvonne Wolf
Instruction Language: German
Comments: The readings were complex and the discussion was focused and emphasized key aspects of the texts.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have not attempted transferring yet.
Course Name/Rating:

Literatur und ihre Umwelten
Course Department: Germanistik
Instructor: Timothy Attanucci
Instruction Language: German
Comments: I liked this course a lot because it laid out the foundations for the German-speaking world of environmental literature.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have not tried yet.
Course Name/Rating:

Humanbiologie und Anthropologie
Course Department: Anthropologie
Instructor: Hans Zischler
Instruction Language: German
Comments: It would have been better for me to have had more than one final test. The content was very interesting, but I needed more steps in my learning process.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have not yet tried.