Fun time, very good for me personally, no value academically. Past Review

By (Russian, Central and East European Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/03/2015 to 05/15/2015 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to live autonomously in a city and in new surroundings, as well as how to travel. If I could do it all again I would've taken a language and gone to a country that spoke that language.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Relative to Middlebury classes these classes were a little bit ridiculous in how easy they were. To be honest, that made for a much better experience though.

* 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?

If you don't speak the language you will never really integrate with the local culture and people. It is impossible. Being in Prague 1 only made it worse as there are Americans everywhere

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A... We never needed health care.

* Safety:

Prague felt very safe. Never had any problems.

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)

Very easily. Prague is cheap.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 250 USD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't go to London.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
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? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? In Czech none
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Czech is a nice symbolic class to take but it is pretty much useless for the program.

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

  • 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?
  • Living situation
  • City
  • Schedule (Class Monday-Wednesday)
* What could be improved?
  • The courses offered
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The Czech language...

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Visual Culture and Socialism

Course Department: Sociology
Instructor: Blanka Nyklova
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Everything about this class was terrible.
Credit Transfer Issues: