Germany knows how things should really be Past Review

By (Germany, Berea College) for

Speak + Write Marburg: Intensive German in Marburg

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
DEFINITELY

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 workload was extremely light compared to what I was used to.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Easy to contact anyone within the program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was absolutely amazing. I would not have traded my host mother for anything. She went above and beyond hosting duties and really made me feel at home. We ate together and spent a lot of time speaking with one another. She helped me with my German and speaking with my host mother were the times my German improved the most.

* Food:

My host mother's cooking was amazing. The cafeteria was mediocre.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

They arranged quite a few trips and outings, but didn't not go to many of them

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

My city was EXTREMELY safe and I never felt unsafe walking around. Everyone in my program was insured with Germany's insurance.

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? Excluding travel, I could have lived on 50 Euros a week, but comfortably with 100 Euros.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I wish I would have been informed of mitfahrgelegenheit.de earlier!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 300 Level
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

Everyone spoke English, but I insisted on speaking German with my English speaking friends and foreign friends

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? A student who is looking to learn the language and have a lot of free time