morse03.html

Christopher Morse Giessen August, 2003

Program and Preparation for Study Abroad

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

Giessen - Justus-Liebig Universitat August 26th - September 26th

A Photo: The First Day: All the Participants with a few Instructors as well

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

2 years at Northwestern

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

Physics - With german I can study at ETH - but that wasn't really the reason for learning German, it was more an opportunity brought about by taking German.

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

None, well I have a few distant relatives in France that I've met once when I was really young, but I don't think that really counts here.

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

Something more in depth on European history. I had a bit in High school, but not that much.

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

I think I was actually quite prepared. Apart from the European History thing, bit that wasn't really that big of a deal. Geography is actually more important, so that when you meet someone from Tajikistan, you know where that is.

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?

60 People total in the course.

There were only three Americans, so that was good, but I was told that this was an exceptional year, and that they normally have 12 or so.

Classes in the morning were in 4 groups of 15. In the afternoon we had workshops (e.g. Dance, cooking, Film) and discussion sections with different themes (e.g. Politics, Art, Literature) The teachers were all very enthusiastic and friendly (much like the ones at Northwestern) Two of them would actually come out to bars with us, supposedly to teach us about the german culture - i.e. Beer.

A Photo: A little volleyball in the afternoon

Every Saturday we had excursions to various cites in Germany. During the week we had various tours of places around Giessen. Giessen itself is pretty small, but it is a college town. The two together means that there are a lot of clubs that you can walk back from after the busses stop running.

One other nice thing is that the course gives everyone a month bus pass.

2. What were the strongest aspects of the program?

The instructors and mentors were all extremely nice and friendly.

Also, there were good activities outside classes.

A Photo: Trying out some Salsa moves at a local Salsa club

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

While the teachers were good, the material wasn't the best, and I probably learned more outside of class.

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?

Student Dorm with about 15 rooms per floor, but since the course is in the summer only about 5 people were on each floor. Each floor had a kitchen with dishes and cooking equipment. The kitchen was also the meeting room, that's where people would hang out as well as the occasional party. TV and music depend on the floor, some had it some didn't.

No internet in the rooms, but you can use library computers.

A Photo: A party in one of the dorm kitchens - the guy in the middle was our grammar instructor, Knut...

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

Well I had one friend with whom I would stay up late in the kitchen discussing things like philosophy or politics. I couldn't say everything that I wanted to, but I was really surprised at how much i could say without using English.

A Photo: At our regular discothek ' "Ulenspiegel"

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

Well, the only thing I can think of is that I should have taken a longer course

Location

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

Great city, it's close to other cities like Frankfurt or Koln, but that goes for most places in Germany.

A photo: On an excursion to Frankfurt

Travel

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

Hard to say... We went to Frankfurt, Koln, Heidelburg, and a trip to several along the Rhine, and the all had something great about them.

Budget

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

Program Costs $__350___

Housing $____275_____

Food $____300_____

Flight to Europe $____800_____

Transportation in town$____0____

Books and materials $_____0______

Incidental expenses $____150_____

TOTAL $______1875____

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

I found food to be a little cheaper, but I tried to live cheap so that i would have more money for traveling.

Practical Advice

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

Grocery stores are closed on Sundays!! Make sure you have enough food!

Make sure that your outlet convertor for English and european plugs actually works (I don't know how to check that, but it would have been nice)

Also, if you're going to Switzerland, and someone tells you that the outlets are the same as in Germany - they are lying!

The best way to learn German is to use it - don't speak english with other people - even if they use english when they talk to you (ok, I was told that often before I left, but it is true!)

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

"Weisrussland" is Belarus in English. It took me about two weeks to figure that one out.

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

Too many to name them all, but a few - meet people from all over the world - get a different perspective of the world - amazing experiences - make friends...

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 don't know. For the summer courses, money might be a factor. I wouldn't have been able to afford it without the DAAD grant.