Czech It Ou! Past Review

By (Sociology and Anthropology., Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/10/2012 to 12/14/2012 with

UPCES - Study Abroad in Prague (CERGE-EI, Charles University)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I was able to travel a lot and see many other cultures. It was worthwhile and I loved it.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were great!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Right in the center of the city and very close to school

* Food:

Food was very cheap but shopping in Czech grocery stores was very difficult.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Czechs were very nice, but there was a cultural barrier because I did not know the language that well.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any problems but the program provided insurance.

* Safety:

I felt safe at most times even though I was at the center of a large city.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

Prague is very cheap and you could spend a lot on food, or a little.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Do not eat out a lot.

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

We all had to take Czech.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Nothing
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? Speak in Czech with Czech people!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International 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?
  • People
  • Location
  • Culture
* What could be improved?
  • Housing
  • Food
  • Length - longer!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew where the best places were to live.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Comprehending the Holocaust

Course Department:
Instructor: Michal Plzak
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was extremely interesting! It was a bit long each week, but I always learned something knew. We also went to Krakow and Auschwitz. The teacher was very smart and well-prepared. I participated in class that same as at Middlebury. The coursework was not too strenuous.
Credit Transfer Issues: