life 101 August 27, 2023

By isaac m (German Language, Literature, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/20/2022 to 02/12/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Mainz

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

it’s hard to sum up. mostly it was about learning about myself for me. the concept of national identity swiveled in my head and i have a better idea now of what i want out of life.

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.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	was predominantly housed with international students
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	no incidents
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes mainz had an energy and an atmosphere to it that made me feel a sense of belonging very quickly indeed. the city was geared towards students with limited cash. there was a lot to do, a lot to see, and travel was cheap. football tickets were €13.

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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$70-$150, depending on whether i was traveling at the weekend
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	don’t use dB, use regional trains instead. buy group tickets when applicable. do all of your grocery shopping near the wohnheim. get favors. one flatmate of mine worked at a produce store and bought my vegetables for me for staff prices.

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	i felt motivated to use the language when i could, but most germans didn’t have the patience for me. i spoke more german with exchange students from poland and italy. had trouble getting integrated in spaces where german was the spoken language. spoke german sometimes anyway. i found it much easier to understand my professors than my peers.
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?	400
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?	most students will have at least some ability to speak german. arrange field trips, meals and activities where german is the spoken language. establish with flatmates that you prefer to speak german, even if you may struggle. join some kind of club independently of your friends.

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
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?	expenses social scene local culture, history, architecture
* What could be improved?	long distance travel costs immersion in german speaking environments babelguide pay
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	travel more and sooner. things get busier later on, so take the chance to see what you want to see as soon as possible. also travel in groups. it’s more fun that way.

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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	culture and composition
Course Department:	german
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	german
Comments:	the babelguides were overworked and the time pressure they were ive was reflected in the feedback i was given. it took more time than it needed to sorting through mistakes in writing. also i would have liked more prescriptive deadlines.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	women and ww1
Course Department:	history
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	german
Comments:	difficult. presentation given alone. felt comfortable asking questions. readings were helpful, though often in english.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	socialism and the workers movement
Course Department:	history
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	german
Comments:	difficult readings and presentation topics. we’ll-paced. good literature resources. fun. engaging professor.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	introduction to the german political system
Course Department:	politics
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	german
Comments:	good help given at office hours. lectures were well paced but too early in the morning.
Credit Transfer Issues: