Melanie Dreyer Goethe Institute Dresden (8 Weeks)
Program and Preparation for Study Abroad
1. Where and when did you study abroad? (Which program ?)
DAAD - 8 week intensive summer language course in Dresden.
2. How much German did you know before you left for Europe?
Three years University study. I was placed in Mittelstufe 2 - which happens to be the most common placement for recipients of this scholarship.
3. What was your major and how did German fit in with your overall academic plans?
MFA Theatre - Directing. Plan to work professionally in Germany and conduct research there.
4. What foreign contacts did you have before studying abroad?
A couple of friends I met in St. Louis.
5. Which courses do you wish you had taken before leaving for Europe?
None. I was glad that I took the intermediate conversation class - twice.
6. How do you feel you could better have prepared yourself for your study abroad experience?
Not sure. Having travelled there once before, I felt prepared and very much enjoyed the experience.
Program Description
1. How would you describe and evaluate this study abroad program and the opportunities it provided for learning German? How many students in a class? How many students in the entire program? Teachers? Special features? Positive aspects? Negative aspects?
The language classes were great. I wanted more opportunities to converse with Germans and not with language students and I had to create those opportunities on my own. We were advised not to speak English at school, although many students disregarded this directive. Speaking English slowed the learning process.
2. What were the strongest aspects of the program?
Intensive language study - every day for five hours.
3. Where do you feel the study abroad program needs improvement?
More opportunities for students who don't fall within the traditional student rubric (i.e. age and subject of study limitations).
4. How would you describe the housing? (Where did you live? Who else lived there? Were there cooking facilities or a meeting room with T.V? Was there much opportunity to practice German?
I was placed in a boarding house that was comprised of individual apartments with private baths and little kitchens. Although I enjoyed having my own bathroom and being able to cook, I was jealous of other students who were placed with families. I highly recommend living with a family. Those students who did seemed to progress more quickly with their language skills.
5. Describe a memorable experience where you made effective use of your German.
I travelled back and forth from Dresden to Berlin almost every weekend using the Mitfahrzentrale (the service that matches drivers and riders to a given city). This gave me a chance to chat in with strangers in German about all kinds of things for the two to four hour trip. By the end of my stay, I had become a pretty good conversationalist. I even made some friends with whom I correspond to this day. I highly recommend this mode of travel. It's cheaper than the train and a great chance to practice German.
6. What do you wish you had done while studying abroad?
Location
What were the advantages or disadvantages of the town or city where the program is based?
Dresden was not ideal for my area of interest - theatre. I would have much preferred Berlin or even Munich. But it was nice to have a chance to get to know one of the important cities of Germany.
Travel
1. What were the most memorable and valuable trips which you took during your stay abroad?
I was near Prague and so I took a weekend trip there. It should not be missed. The architecture is breath taking and everything is amazingly cheap!
Back at Northwestern
1. Which courses did you take or do you plan to take to complement or expand on what you have done in Europe?
More grammar and language classes.
2. How did you get credit for the academic work you did in Europe?
I did not. I have never received academic credit for my German studies.
3. How did your academic plans change, if at all, after you returned to Northwestern?
They didn't.
4. What advice would you have for students contemplating study abroad?
Do it.
Budget
1. Please provide a basic budget for prospective students. What is the minimum needed to participate in the program?
Program Costs $__0_________
Housing $___0________
Food $__150_________
Flight to Europe $__500_________
Transportation in town $____50_______
Books and materials $____NA_______
Incidental expenses $__100_________
TOTAL $_800__________
Please note that part of my scholarship involved free tuition, housing and a monthly stipend to offset living expenses. It may not accurately reflect the needs of other programs.
2. How did you find the cost of living in Europe? What financial advice would you give prospective participants?
In Germany I found things quite affordable. In France things were more expensive.
Practical Advice
1. List the three most important things that you wish someone had told you before leaving.
Bring your grammar book. You will want it as reference. Don't hang out only with Americans - you will end up speaking a lot of English. Bring extra cash for travel in and around your studies.
2.What special things did you discover during your stay that other students might profit from knowing?
Germans are often not as cold as one might be led to believe. I had several people recognize that I was a foreigner at train stops. They struck up conversations with me and were soon advising me on all sorts of things to do and telling me stories about the history of their city, etc. Make friends with the locals. Its fun.
3. Why would you encourage another student to consider studying abroad?
There are no down sides to it. It can only enrich a course of study.
4.Why do you think that so few American students study abroad and what could the German Department or Study Abroad Office do to encourage students to study abroad.
Are there really so few? I guess those of us who have been there should meet with students and testify to the value of the experience.
5. Did you find any work or internship opportunities during your stay in Germany? - no.