Valpo's Reutlingen Program Offers Flexibility to Learn Abroad in Your Own Chosen Way Past Review
By Michael D (Political Science, German, Valparaiso University) for
Valparaiso University: Reutlingen - Hochschule Reutlingen
The experience helped me learn more about myself. My limitations and shortcomings became very apparent, especially my language skills. I also learned to be very flexible and not make too many assumptions in new environments
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I welcomed the abundance of time allotted for the students to travel, but was slightly underwhelmed by the demands of the coursework. The system did not differ much from the American system because the program is run by Valparaiso University. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The director of the study abroad programs in Reutlingen was intimately involved with the Valpo study group. He was very helpful and knowledgeable. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Many of the items that I expected would be provided were indeed provided--so that was good. Almost everything that I needed was prearranged, or I was well-informed as to how to obtain those necessities. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about 25 Euros a week on food at the campus. I travelled every weekend, so those expenses were between 75 and 125 Euros a weekend. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The train reservation expenses were more than I had anticipated, especially having purchased the Eurail train pass. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | German 353 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
To really speak German, I found that I needed to make a concerted effort to speak with German students and locals. I always spoke English with my fellow Valpo students, which made immersion all the more difficult and required me to redouble my efforts to go out of my comfort zone to encounter German speakers. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Those with Wanderlust! |
