Largely self-driven experiences Past Review

By (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Wellesley College) - abroad from 03/15/2012 to 07/14/2012 with

Wellesley College: Wellesley-in-Berlin

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My German did improve noticeably, but I think the most significant development I saw in myself was increased confidence and independence. That's very common in study abroad programs, and it probably would have happened elsewhere, but all I can say for sure is that it did happen in Berlin. Berlin was not my top choice of city, and I think going there taught me to open my mind a bit.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: FU Berlin
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload during the orientation and beginning of the semester is fairly light, but it picks up in the middle and the last month or two can be very busy and stressful. On the other hand, despite the stress of work, I loved most of my classes. The quality of education was much better than I expected.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

There was a ton of academic and emotional support from the program. They helped us get started and checked up on us during the semester.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing varies widely depending on what you're willing to spend. I lived in the dorms, which are cheaper than an apartment but also farther from the city (the place I lived felt like more of a suburb than berlin proper).

* Food:

You're in charge of your own food, so it's really what you make of it. Fortunately, food is fairly cheap in Berlin, so feeding yourself is pretty affordable.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Not particularly. Most of my roommates were international, so my only contact with native Germans were in class or at social dances. I didn't develop any close friendships with them, though I made lots of international friends.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare is extraordinarily quickly and easily accessible, and the program offered me far more assistance than I even needed. They prompted me to seek help, helped me to find a doctor, and offered to call and schedule appointments for me, though all of that could easily be done online through our insurance company.

* Safety:

Berlin always felt super-safe [for a city] to me, even alone at the bus stop at night. Of course I did take the normal precautions. The most dangerous areas are the tourist-y areas, I think, as far as pick-pocketing goes.

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)

It's a big investment of money up front to pay the rent and security deposit and make the dorm/apartment habitable, but Berlin is a relatively cheap city.

* Was housing included in your program cost? No
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $20-50, after the initial, one-time expenses were covered.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Only take as much money as you need for the week out of your bank account, and try to avoid taking any more out. The little expenses really add up--avoid them if you can. You can eat more cheaply than you think. Cooking for one requires adjustments--like cooking with just a few, versatile ingredients, so you can use them up before they go bad--but you get the hang of it pretty quickly.

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

We signed a language pledge that required us to use the language at least 80% of the time. Honestly I don't think I kept it--one of my roommates didn't speak German, and neither did the friends and family back in the States with whom I kept in touch--but we were definitely encouraged to use the language.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? A couple 300-level literature classes.
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? Really force yourself and the others on the program to use German when speaking with each other.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
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?
  • I loved the city, and how easy it was to explore and feel at home in.
* What could be improved?
  • I don't think the Middlebury "Kulturportfolio" was designed well. I see now, from conversations I've had since I returned, what the goal of the kulturportfolio, but it really just felt like busywork that tried to isolate us from the culture.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how isolated it would feel, and how self-motivated learning the language had to be. Even with the other students on the program, if there wasn't an adult there to remind us, we often fell into English.