Past Review
By Jacqueline S (Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics., University of Arkansas - Fayetteville) for
University of Kansas: Eutin - Language and Culture
This was the best summer I have ever had! Even though I had been to Germany before, this experience showed me how it is to be a German. I learned every day habits, proper German etiquette, as well as learning how to speak and read. This trip has given me a desire to move to Germany and study. After I graduate from the University of Arkansas I plan to move to Germany and attend a German University. This trip allowed me to visit a few Universities there and see which one and which town suited me best.
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. |
We participated in classes for three hours a day, five days a week. We were given assignments to practice our language with locals. Organized group outings were scheduled and we were able to spend a lot of time with local Germans. Classes were conducted primarily in German. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
This trip was my best life experience. Professor Daly and Frau Frawley were wonderful instructors. They were very organized and immensely helpful. This trip has encouraged me to persue my German language speaking skills and to study abroad for my higher degrees. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
For the first six weeks we lived with host families. My host family has become my second family and I intend to keep in close contact with them. The town we were in was very safe and we used bicycles and walked to get to the downtown area and school. It was a smaller town so every thing was easily accessible without needing a vehicle. I was provided everything by my host family. They treated me like a daughter and we often went grocery shopping together so I could get my favorite items. |
| * Food: |
The food was great! My host mother cooked every day and provided snacks at any time. For lunch, we ate at restaurants as a group that was paid for by the program. When we traveled for the last two weeks, breakfast was provided by the hotel or hostel and lunch and dinner was purchased by the program. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We did everything from see the Berlin Wall, the Alps, Switzerland, and spent many days at the Baltic Sea. Professor Daly has his Ph.D. in Medieval Studies and he often took us to historical locations that he knew about and was able to provide us with many tours. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
My town was very safe. I felt safe in all of Germany. My advice to future students would be to be smart. In larger cities no matter where you are theives will be there. Also on trains and buses it is always a good idea to keep your belongs in eyesight. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
We practiced our language skills with our host families, local friends that we made, and in every day activities around town. Overall, a minority of the people we encountered spoke English. We were submersed in the language and encourage to learn more every day. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Remember that the first part of your trip is studying. Its easy to get frustrated when you are in a fun country and you have a great desire to explore. You still have homework and it should be accomplished first. I felt this was a great experience for me as a German major because I learned so much in such a short amount of time. It also helped in my speaking skills because grammar can be easy to memorize, but putting sentences together and listening are much harder than it seems. |
