Belgium: More than just chocolate and beer? Past Review

By (Communication and French, Western Washington University) for

CIEE: Brussels - Advanced Liberal Arts

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I don't even know how to begin to respond to this. The study abroad was definitely worthwhile. My language skills improved, I am more culturally aware (mostly about Europe), and I aspire to learn more languages because of it.

Review Photos

CIEE: Brussels - Advanced Liberal Arts Photo CIEE: Brussels - Advanced Liberal Arts Photo CIEE: Brussels - Advanced Liberal Arts Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The Belgian education system is very much unlike the American system. There are lectures that are often less frequent but are longer. The majority of the grade (in many classes) is based of an 3 or 4 hour exam at the end of the semester containing information from the entire semester. This is what caught me off guard. There is also not much student participation in class during the lecture. My job was to write notes for the duration of the lecture. Classes were difficult, but thankfully the bar is slightly lowered for exchange students so that passing is actually attainable!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a rented room in a 4 story house. Another room was rented to another American (in a similar program). Neighbor hood very safe and wonderfully located by 2 ponds, transport lines and the university. Nightlife is available nearby as well. All furniture, sheets, towels, and cookware were included. All I brought was clothing and hygiene products. My land lady was frequently working, busy, or not at home--but she doesn't speak English so all communication was in French. She was very helpful, welcoming, and clear with expectations. She even corrected my final paper for one of my classes. It was a really wonderful living situation for me.

* Food:

CIEE did not cover food, but I was able to bus to the nearest grocery store once a week and stock up on food. I was given a cupboard and a shelf in the fridge for all of my things. However, I eat a lot like a student when its on my own tab. CIEE took us on excursions, and all expenses (including food!) was paid for. I was able to experience true belgian food on these numerous occasions.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Too many to name! Field trip to Bruge, Holland, Luxembourg, France, Germany, and Tournai being among the few that I favored. Excursions were once or twice a month and always included an educational element as well as tons of fun!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

The country/city was mostly safe as long as you don't go to sketchy neighborhoods late at night like in any other first world country.

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

I practiced French with my class mates and even had a tandem partner (language exchange). I spoke mostly in French but everyone spoke English so if I ever had an issue I could just switch to English.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

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  • Other
* Who did you live with?

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  • Other

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I suggest being confident in French. Doesn't matter if you're fluent, you just have to be willing to speak French because its too easy to switch to English in a city like Brussels. If you like to be challenged, go on adventures in multiple countries (as Belgium is centrally located) and enjoy meeting people from culturally and linguistically different backgrounds, this is the program for you.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Theories et practique de la rhetorique

Course Department: LING B 420
Instructor: Emmanuelle Danblon
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Very interesting class, great professor, plenty of outside class materials available. My only complaint is that her final was extremely difficult and her grading is not lenient.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have yet to deal with transfer credit.
Course Name/Rating:

Pragmatique de la Communication

Course Department: COMM B 110
Instructor: Alain Eraly
Instruction Language: French
Comments: This class was amazing and probably my favorite by far. M Eraly is very engaging professor and offers relevant examples to theories. His lectures were twice a week for 2 hours and never has 4 hours flown by so quickly. The pace was a bit fast, but that could have been because French is not my first language. I wouldn't say I participated much but I definitely wrote a substantially larger amount of notes than I would have back home.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have yet to deal with transfer credit.
Course Name/Rating:

Approche Semiologique des medias et l'images.

Course Department: COMM B 310
Instructor: Andre Helbo
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Course was very difficult and the book for the class was not in depth enough (the class was more lecture based). Lectures were fast paces and it was hard to keep up!
Credit Transfer Issues: I have yet to deal with transfer credit.
Course Name/Rating:

Histoire Politique Contemporaine de la Belgique

Course Department: HIST B 201
Instructor: Serge Jaumin
Instruction Language: French
Comments: This was a required class so I didn't get to choose it. Personally not interested in the history of Belgium, but the class was fine. Professor not the most interesting lecturer, but gave all the the necessary information in a consecutive manor.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have yet to deal with transfer credit.
Course Name/Rating:

Morphologie, syntaxe, et semantique

Course Department: LING B 200
Instructor: M Kreutz and M Kissine
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Another difficult class. I don't have much of a basis in Linguistics so this was a little bit of a struggle for me. I was forewarned that phonetics was a pre recquisite, but as I'd taken it in America I thought it'd be ok.
Credit Transfer Issues: I have yet to deal with transfer credit.