Beth Littmann
Hochschule Bremen, August 2001

Program and Preparation for Study Abroad

1. Where and when did you study abroad? (Which program ?)

I studied abroad in Bremen, Germany. It was a language intensive program at the Hochschule Bremen for 3 weeks.

2. How much German did you know before you left for Europe?

I only had one year here at Northwestern.

3. What was your major and how did German fit in with your overall academic plans?

I still do not have a definite major. So, I did this as a learning experience and for the environment of it.

4. What foreign contacts did you have before studying abroad?

My cousin is living in Dusseldorf, but other that that I didn't know a soul.

5. Which courses do you wish you had taken before leaving for Europe?

I wish that I had taken more German, and perhaps some economics and world systems courses.

6. How do you feel you could better have prepared yourself for your study abroad experience?

If I had just learning a little more German . . .

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?

All I can say is that it was all spectacular. My program consisted of approximately 60 kids. We were divided into three groups that were based on our language level. I was placed in the lowest, and I felt a bit overly prepared orally. Language was taught to us by great teachers for the morning from about 9:00 till 2:00. Then we were given the option of participating in other activities or roaming around the city as we desired. I learned the most from the other students. We ate lunch together in the city every day and conversed in German!

2. What were the strongest aspects of the program?

I loved the teachers that I got to know, and the involvement that they encouraged between the students. This program had just the right structure: we were encouraged to attend all classes, and then free to establish our own activities as well.

3. Where do you feel the study abroad program needs improvement?

The only thing I can think of is that it would have been nice to mix the levels/classes up for a few school-related activities. For instance, involve everyone in discussions or games of some sort.

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 lived with a Polish girl in a very nice apartment suite. In our house there were also three other students living there in the program. They were from Japan, Italy, Turkey, and Poland. We refereed to each other by our countries instead of by our real names sometimes. My roommate and I had a kitchen which became the hangout. We didn't have a TV, but that didn't matter too much. My roommate was incredible because she knew about six languages fluently. She blatantly refused to speak ANY English with me, and that made me learn German. My bed and room were very comfortable and homey feeling. It was nothing like a dorm experience, because I felt entirely on my own.

5. Describe a memorable experience where you made effective use of your German.

The first day of the program one of the German teachers was giving us a tour of downtown Bremen. I asked my roommate what some stereotypes of Americans were. She started telling me, in German, that Americans tended to be fat, very loud spoken, gaudy, and ask too many questions. Right as she said that two Americans came up behind us and said, "Aw, honey look! This is an authentic German group, let's take a picture!" They were just like my roommate had described, and we laughed in German afterwards.

However, the best answer to this question is that my best friend in Germany is a Russian who just married a German. She had been in Germany for two months and didn't learn much before she came. So, while she didn't know any English, and I knew no Russian, we just had some bad German to communicate. We had a grand time shopping and using our dictionaries whenever we ate together.

6. What do you wish you had done while studying abroad?

I wish I could have seen more of Germany and traveled more.

Location

What were the advantages or disadvantages of the town or city where the program is based?

Bremen is an incredible city. It's authentic Germany! It has a small town air, while being a pretty big place. I loved its efficiency, the friendliness of the people, the atmosphere, and the beauty and music that composed all of it.

Travel

1. What were the most memorable and valuable trips which you took during your stay abroad?

I went Bowling at a movie theater with my roommate, my Russian friend, and her roommate. They had never been before. And then we watched an American movie dubbed in German. I also enjoyed taking a train to visit my cousin in Dusseldorf.

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?

I want to take more German and some more German literature courses. I am very interested in the history as well.

2. How did you get credit for the academic work you did in Europe?

I did not do this for credit.

3. How did your academic plans change, if at all, after you returned to Northwestern?

I want to go back to Germany

4. What advice would you have for students contemplating study abroad?

I just want to tell them to go! If you have any doubts, just forget them and do it. You have to plunge yourself into the atmosphere, no turning back, and no hanging out with the other Americans or Canadians there. Speak in German.

Budget

1. Please provide a basic budget for prospective students. What is the minimum needed to participate in the program?

Program Costs $350
Housing $300
Food $200
Flight to Europe $???
Transportation in town $50
Books and materials $20
Incidental expenses $200
TOTAL $___1120________ Plus flight c. $800 =$1920

2. How did you find the cost of living in Europe? What financial advice would you give prospective participants?

I thought it was very fairly priced. We got most of our food from a grocery store, and it wasn't that much different from back in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Practical Advice

1. List the three most important things that you wish someone had told you before leaving.

1. Zurich Airport will lose your luggage
2. Bring your dictionary with you at all times
3. Bring an umbrella to Bremen

2. What special things did you discover during your stay that other students might profit from knowing?

Everything I learned were things that people need to go and experience for themselves. But I was shocked at how much I had in common with people from around the world. It was great to be around such amazing people. The trip provided a new perspective on things.

3. Why would you encourage another student to consider studying abroad?

For exactly those reasons listed above. Everyone needs should be exposed to a new view of the world every now and again.

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?

I think that they should talk to other people who have gone on these trips. And just have information provided.

5. Did you find any w ork or internship opportunities during your stay in Germany?

I know that they exist, but I wasn't really looking for them.