A most spectacular year of adventures and incidences in Germany! Past Review
By Caren G (Government, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 10/24/2011 to 07/27/2012 with
University of Freiburg: Freiburg - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
There were many important lessons learned while abroad, among them were appreciating the different views and opinions that others had, learning how to budget while in another country, and an improvement in my ability to speak and understand the German language. It was most definitely worthwhile and would highly recommend all to study abroad, especially in Germany!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
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 |
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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) |
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| * 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? | 60 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buying groceries and cooking helps save a lot of money. If you are going to travel, try Couch Surfing, it's free and provides you with the opportunity to get to know the locals and places most do not know about! |
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? | German 306 Reading and Writing German |
| 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? | Get in touch with the international office at your host university and ask if they have a buddy program or a language tandem program, both are great ways to get in touch with people! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
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? | It would have been a lot easier to have applied for housing with the host university than searching online. |
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