Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Cultural immersion in prague and surrounding european cities. Past Review

By (Economics., Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/03/0013 to 05/17/0013 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
A more cosmopolitan view of the world and a third person view of what america is really like/seen as.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? around 150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? cook for yourself as much as possible. Avoid central locations and tourist traps.

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

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? none
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? Talk to young foreigners and kids.

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

  • Other
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?
  • Great field trips
  • Good class schedules
  • available administrators
* What could be improved?
  • A chance to look at classes before i signed up for them
  • meeting teachers of other classes.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How to cook.

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: History
Instructor: Plzak
Instruction Language: English
Comments: It was a fairly challenging class, we took field trips to nearby concentration camps. The teacher was very well prepared and we were measured in bot papers and exams.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Global Communications
Course Department: Communications
Instructor: Nesbitt
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Not very challenging. No field trips. We were assessed in exams and presentations.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Czech Language
Course Department: Czech
Instructor: Silva
Instruction Language: Czech
Comments: A somewhat challenging class, I thought the professor did a great job in instructing us from square one all the way to speaking the language.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have yet to transfer this language credit.
Course Name/Rating:

Economics of Transition
Course Department: Economics
Instructor: Semerak
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was a challenging class, we had relevant field trips to a car factory and the Russian embassy. We were assessed through exams.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Walking Tour of Prague
Course Department: History
Instructor: Vilhelm
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Not too challenging, there was a great ammount of cultural immersion in the class. Helped me get to know the area that I lived in as well as places far away from where I lived. I had great participation in the class and there was a midterm as well as a final and a paper.
Credit Transfer Issues: