Best Year of My Life in Germany Past Review
By A student (Neurobiology, Neurosciences, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/15/2014 to 08/04/2015 with
Wayne State University: Junior Year in Munich
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My language skills and understanding of German culture improved dramatically, I gained extremely valuable research experience related to my major (Neuroscience) and I developed a number of extremely meaningful friendships.
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. |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
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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) |
$100 per week was usually sufficient |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $100 each week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Go grocery shopping more than eating out! |
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 |
Simply living in Munich and taking courses taught in German necessitated and fostered the improvement of language skills, but more German could have been spoken outside of class. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 400 level German seminar |
| 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? | Don't stop speaking the language when you leave the classroom! Try to speak as much German with your friends as you can. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | In the beginning, they advise that you budget 500 Euro per month, but if you're smart with your money, you can get by on much less. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Munich and National Socialism |
| Course Department: | German |
| Instructor: | Barbara Rice |
| Instruction Language: | German |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Advanced German Grammar II |
| Course Department: | German |
| Instructor: | Sandra Bakker |
| Instruction Language: | German |
| Comments: | |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Neuroimaging Focused Research |
| Course Department: | TUM-Neuroimaging Center |
| Instructor: | Kathrin Koch |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
History of Art in Munich |
| Course Department: | German |
| Instructor: | Imke Gloth |
| Instruction Language: | German |
| Comments: | |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Introduction to Biological Psychology |
| Course Department: | Biological Sciences/Psychology |
| Instructor: | Paul Sauseng |
| Instruction Language: | German |
| Comments: | |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Introduction to Developmental Neuropsychology |
| Course Department: | Biological Sciences/Psychology |
| Instructor: | Lydia Unterberger |
| Instruction Language: | German |
| Comments: | |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Advanced German Grammar I |
| Course Department: | German |
| Instructor: | Sandra Bakker |
| Instruction Language: | German |
| Comments: | |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Introduction to Intercultural Communication |
| Course Department: | Cultural/Social Sciences |
| Instructor: | Ivett Guntersdorfer |
| Instruction Language: | German |
| Comments: | |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Philosophy of Mind |
| Course Department: | Philosophy |
| Instructor: | Richard Dawid |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
General Theories in Intercultural Communication |
| Course Department: | Cultural/Social Sciences |
| Instructor: | Ivett Guntersdorfer/Alois Müller |
| Instruction Language: | German |
| Comments: | |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
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