Film study in Prague, it is possible Past Review

By (Film/Cinema Production, University of Hartford) for

CIEE: Prague - Film Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I grew as a person and gain a better understanding of the world I live in.

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.

Professors seem colder but that is compared to the excessive attention American professor are told we need to learn. We in fact I enjoyed the more professional and serious environment of a European classroom.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The biggest strength of the program was their encouragement and support to discover and experience the local culture. The biggest flaw was the academic balance of course requirements and the film production process.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with two other Americans and one Slovak. It was perfect, I had people there who were going through the same changes as myself as well as a local how spoke the language and was eager to guide us through our host country.

* Food:

N/A

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

CIEE sponsored trip to Moravia.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Prague is very safe. Pick pocketing seems to be an issue but no one on my program nor myself experienced it.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $600. Everyday meals were not provided and I was a big souvenir shopping.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Traveling is expensive. Nights trains are convenient because you don't have to pay for a night in a hostel but they are sometimes just as expensive as a flight.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

We took intensive czech everyday for our first week and twice a week for the rest of our time there. We all lived with one local who helped us learn czech. Many locals did not speak English and would become aggravated when spoken to in English.

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? STUDY ABROAD