Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Learn TONS About Architecture Past Review

By (ARCHITECTURE AND RELATED SERVICES., Tufts University) - abroad from 09/01/2012 to 04/30/2013 with

Study Abroad in Germany! Programs and Reviews!

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Berlin was amazing! I loved my classes I learned so much about the culture, history, and architecture of Berlin and Europe. I enjoyed being about to travel so easily all over Europe. Being taken by the program to places like Austria, Hungary, and Turkey was wonderful. I went from knowing only a bit about architecture to feeling confident in my abilities to draw, build models, and identify buildings and types!

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.

The studio classes were intense! Lots of hours, lots of learning. You built models, designed structures, learned all about Berlin. This wasn't a program where classes were a joke!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Holger and Christian are two of the most helpful, kind, enthusiastic, and fun people I've ever met. After a year in Berlin with them, I consider them friends, not just program directors.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Berlin has amazing food if you know where to go! Mmmmmmm Rüya's Gemüse Kabab.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Berlin is a hard place to meet Germans

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare in Germany is easy and inexpensive. When I went to the hospital after my bike accident everything processed smoothly.

* Safety:

I always felt safe in Berlin, no matter what the time of day was.

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)

Berlin is cheap!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 30-40 euro
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go to the cheaper grocery stores for basics: Lidl, Aldi, Norma. And look for good deals at the open markets that are all over the city!

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

Teachers would speak German with you if you made the effort, but most people didn't know any German entering the program. This is definitely not the program where you learn tons of German. This is the program where you learn tons about architecture.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
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? German 22
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? Stay with a guest family and if you're in Berlin for the academic year, do an internship!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The Directors
  • The wonderful classes
  • The city itself
* What could be improved?
  • LEXIA's cambridge office is the worst administrative body I've ever encountered. I did the program in spite of them, not because of them. They made every step of the process difficult if not impossible. I could do better running their offices entirely by myself. I'm astounded they are even in business. It's completely unprofessional and utterly harmful to themselves and the poor directors in the host countries.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How small it is! Because the LEXIA office in Cambridge have such completely awful management and administration, the program is TINY! 10 students the first semester, 7 the following, and only 4 over summer. The program in Berlin could easily host 20-40 and this would be more beneficial for the students themselves. The LEXIA website promises several different academic programs: architecture, photography, visual culture, area studies. The program is really architecture/art and culture however. When you have only 4 students it's impossible to have 4 completely different academic programs.

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!