A Year in Mannheim Past Review
By A student (Philosophy, University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 08/15/2015 to 05/17/2016 with
University of Mannheim: Mannheim - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My level of proficiency in German is now C1.2. That would be a monumental achievement in any other language, like Spanish or French. However, German is spoken almost exclusively in Central Europe and by people who are typically bilingual or even trilingual, which makes it much less useful than other foreign languages. I gained a new skill, but I also learned that it is important to know the and benefits of obtaining a new skill ahead of time. I cannot honestly say that the experience was worthwhile, because it is not one that I would like to repeat.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
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? |
I had wonderful roommates in my second semester there. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
German culture at first seems very similar to our own. Of course, it's much closer to what we find in America than in other countries like Japan or Nepal. However, there are still enormous differences. German humor is very different from American humor, almost everything is closed on Sundays and the people there in general are much harder to approach. I say "in general" because I made several wonderful friends there. However, the sense of isolation that one develops in an industrialized city like Mannheim is very difficult to overcome. I also want to caution against going to Germany if you intend to learn the language, unless you already have years of learning under your belt. Germans love to talk in English, no matter how flawless your command of their language is. It can be difficult to pursuade them to stick to German once they detect your American/British accent. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The healthcare in Germany is excellent. Don't try and get an appointment with a doctor, which can take months. Instead, go to a walk-in clinic. |
| * Safety: |
Mannheim is very safe. I never felt like I was in danger while I was there. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Food in Germany is not expensive. Just use good judgement, don't eat out more than once a week, and you'll find that you can live off of less than thirty Euros of food per week. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $120 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy a Semesterticket as soon as you can. The word means what you think it means. It will cost you only a little more than a hundred Euros. |
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 |
Administrators and professors encourage the use of German. The students are more likely to converse in English when they get the chance. |
| 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? | I had a year of German in community college. |
| 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? | Do not mingle exclusively with younger people. Instead, spend time with older people. Some of them speak very good English, but they are prouder of their native language. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | I wish I had known more about German culture and the language before I left. |
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! |
