All together it was definitely an unforgettable experience! Past Review
By Mariya Utkina (Berea College) - abroad from 08/01/2016 to 11/30/2016 with
Speak + Write Marburg: Intensive German in Marburg
I have tremendously improved my language skills, fell in love with Europe and Bavaria in particular.
Review Photos
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. |
Even though it is called an intensive language program, I cannot fully agree with the statement. The class was only from 8:30am till 12:40pm with supposedly two ten minutes breaks during that time. However, usually breaks ended up being 20+ minutes and the class in the morning didn't start on time. During my study there I had a new language teacher every month and not all of the teachers are equally enthusiastic and committed to their job. Most of the time homework wasn't given and if it was given, it was not properly checked and corrected. During the four month of my study, only one teacher, Olga, in my opinion, was really teaching an intensive language course with every day writing homework that was corrected and all the mistakes that were made were explained to me to prevent me from making the same mistakes in the future. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It is a good program for people who have had previous international exposure. For people who are going abroad for a first time, this program's structure might be a bit challenging. I was given a folder with essential information in the beginning of my study there and there was one seminar for all the students of the language school explaining the basics. However, most of the time it was up to me to figure everything else out. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Both of the WGs where I lived had good living conditions and were located fairly central. However, I have requested to live with a host family and it was my main reason for choosing this program. During my four month there they were unable to find me a host family and was was living in a shared apartment instead. |
| * Food: |
I was able to cook myself in the apartment or eat in the Marburg Uni dining hall. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Prior to enrolling into this program, I had a three month internship in the south of Germany and by the time I came to Marbug I felt fully integrated and included in German culture and everyday life. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Luckily I didn't need to go to the doctor. Nevertheless, I had an insurance with a fairly good coverage. |
| * Safety: |
Marburg is a college town that is fairly safe. However, while I was in Germany quite a few terrorist attacks have happened. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
For me, as a German major, this program was not really intensive. |
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) |
Germany is quite an expensive country t with the right budgeting kills I was able to live fairly comfortable. |
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 |
| How many hours per day did you use the 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? | That my language course will be mostly with people who are quite older than me and have been long done with college |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
