Outstanding Semester in Prague Past Review

By A student (Computer Science, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/02/2015 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?

It was a fantastic experience that I wish I could do again. I learned a lot about living independently and making my own choices. I absolutely loved living in a foreign country and trying to figure out ways to communicate despite the obvious language barrier although most Czech people speak English.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

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?	UPCES gives great apartment set ups once students arrive.
* Food:	All the of apartment are equipped with suitable kitchens for cooking meals, but the programs has no included food, with the exception of school trips.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I had no health related issues, but the program administrators provided us with the appropriate resources if necessary.
* Safety:	Prague is an extremely safe city. I never felt unsafe once
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)	As long as you are smart about what you spend your money on Prague is a very affordable city. I probably spent about $100 a week on food, but cooked 3-4 nights a week. An average dinner at a restaurant was ~$12.
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?	Cook dinner a few times a week and buy things to make breakfast and lunch with at the grocery store.

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	The program had a fantastic Intro to Czech course with great professors.
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?	No Pre-req
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?	Go shopping at the grocery store. You pick up a surprising amount of Czech from reading labels on food and interacting with cashiers.

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?	Housing Group of Students School Trips
* What could be improved?	Nothing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Prague is pretty dead on the weekends because everyone is traveling. Don't spend too much time in the city and explore other countries. Hang out outside as much as you possibly can and just walk around instead of sleeping or watching tv.

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:	Prague as a Living History
Course Department:	History
Instructor:	Ondrej Skripnik
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Awesome course that teaches you a lot about the formation of Prague. Gave me the ability to see many parts of Prague I otherwise wouldn't have ever visited.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Comprehending the Holocaust
Course Department:	History
Instructor:	Michal Plzak
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course was an insightful look into the reasons behind the Holocaust and the political and historical motivations behind the actions of the Nazis.
Credit Transfer Issues: