Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

IES Freiburg: A Great Place and Program for Any Students of German Past Review

By (Spanish Language, Literature, Trinity University) - abroad from 08/31/2016 to 12/17/2016 with

IES Abroad: Freiburg - Language & Area Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot both academically and personally. I was able to meet and make friendships with other American students from different parts of the country who were all helpful in making the entire experience worthwhile. Sharing your daily experiences with the other students in the program helps you realize certain aspects that you may not realize alone.

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.

Not all courses of the program were challenging. But most of them were more or less comparable to a university in the US.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

All of the staff in the IES Freiburg center were always very willing to help and helpful with all of my questions.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My room was a very good size, and the student apartment I lived in had a very nice environment among the flatmates.

* Food:

The food provided at the program events were always very good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I spent a lot of time with Americans and not a lot of time with local students. This could have been different, I believe, had I stayed a full academic year in Freiburg.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

The city was extremely safe, although there were two incidents during my stay in the area that seemed quite unnerving for the inhabitants of Freiburg.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I would choose the same program. However, believe I should have stayed a year to form better relationships with native students.

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)

Although Freiburg is a bit more expensive than other cities in Germany, it was very easy to spend less than $200 on food and other personal expenses per week.

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

Almost every day our staff would tell us to practice our German skills as much as possible: not just with natives, but also with each other.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
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? Advanced German
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 out of your way to speak with native speakers, other international students or find a tandem partner with whom you can practice German and English.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • the trips offered by the program
  • the professors, instructors and staff
  • the city!
* What could be improved?
  • the courses could be a bit more rigorous
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I had not originally been aware how important it would be to meet and talk to as many native students as possible in order to feel a part of the host environment.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Germany in the 21st Century
Course Department: Political Science / German Studies
Instructor:
Instruction Language: German
Comments: The course was not very challenging. Only the final paper was comparable to that of a junior-level course in the US. The instructor seemed always well-prepared and had a clear plan for each class period, but the course material was not, in my own opinion, challenging or rigorous.
Credit Transfer Issues: