Breathtaking Berlin: Living in Europe's Most Exciting City Past Review
By Christian Romero (Brandeis University) - abroad from 06/07/2016 to 07/21/2016 with
IES Abroad: Berlin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
The experience was definitely worthwhile! I learned that I am incredibly fascinated by German culture, as well as learning so much from Germany's passion for sustainable living.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
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
I made wonderful friends on my program, and learned to love living in a city. Berlin has such an impressive public transportation system, which made it easy to get around, and it in the center of Europe, which made traveling very easy. Additionally, Berlin was an inspiring and academically stimulating city. |
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) |
Berlin is a wonderful city, and very affordable to live in! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 150 Euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to make your own breakfast and lunch when you can so you can splurge on dinner! |
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 |
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| 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? | I had not taken any German prior to the program |
| 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? | Practice the language while you are ordering in restaurants and shopping at local vendors/supermarkets. Even though these interactions require minimal language knowledge, it helps to build confidence when using the language, and practice makes perfect! |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | I wish I knew more German before attending the program! |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
