David Wengert
Bremen: August 18-September 13, 2003
Program and Preparation for Study Abroad
1. Where and when did you study abroad? (Which program ?)
University of Bremen, Germany
Summer, August 18 &endash; September 13, 2003
2. How much German did you know before you left for Europe?
I had completed my two-year WCAS foreign language requirement and had also taken a German composition the spring quarter before leaving for Europe. I had already been in Germany for six weeks when I started this summer program having already completed one in Leipzig. My ability to speak German had already improved dramatically.
3. What was your major and how did German fit in with your overall academic plans?
My major is history and my minor is Slavic Studies. German allowed me to study for the year in Vienna which is close in proximity to the countries I wanted to study.
4. What foreign contacts did you have before studying abroad?
I had a few family friends in Germany, but did not see any of them or even contact them during my visit.
5. Which courses do you wish you had taken before leaving for Europe?
None, I fit in well in the language classes I took.
6. How do you feel you could better have prepared yourself for your study abroad experience?
I think Professor Paluch prepared me quite well as far as packing (though I brought more than he thought necessary).
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?
I will try to be objective, but two factors really effected my impression of this summer program. I was sick with a nasty cold for three weeks (almost the whole duration of the program). Moreover, I had already had a summer course before taking this one, so I was more inclined to compare the two instead of judging the second program objectively. Moreover, the heatwave ended almost the day I arrived in Bremen, so the weather became suddenly much colder and wetter than before.
That said, this program was in no way a bad experience for me. After taking a test, I was placed in the Mittelstufe I/II group which was the second most advanced group. My teacher for this class was rather dull and gave us grammar exercises that I have been doing since I started learning German. I was also right on the border between Mittelstufe I/II and Mittelstufe III/Oberstufe, so I asked the following Monday if I could switch classes. That was the smartest thing I did in this program, though it made me really nervous every time I spoke in class because I felt the need to prove that I deserved to be in my new class. Everyone that I had befriended up to that point were in this higher class because I could communicate easily with them when we went to pubs and on field trips. Although I made an effort to speak with everyone in my first summer program, I was no longer patient enough to stumble through GermEnglish conversations. My new class had daily debates, and every student was required to speak about a theme. We had one presentation about the globalization of the English language, one about the localization of purchasing produce, and I gave mine on the effect American corporations have on the suburban American landscape and people. That was tough for me, because my German was not good enough to speak extemporaneously and I had not prepared what I wanted to say enough. But that taught me a lot about making presentations in general.
The upper two classes split into two different groups to study either Bremen history and culture or German media. I chose the culture, and we took some field trips to museums in the city. The program as a whole took trips to the northern mud flats, the Bremen parliament, Bremen radio and TV station, Bremen harbor, a science museum, and probably a couple others. They could have planned a few more optional activities. As it was, we ended up making up our own trips and activities such as trips to Hamburg, Amsterdam and organizing basketball or billiards. So is it better that they didn't plan much and we had the freedom to do what we wanted? Hard to say. I'll address that more when I talked about the living situation.
2. What were the strongest aspects of the program?
The people on the program were the best part. The program itself felt like it lacked structure. There were classes in the morning and occasionally activities in the afternoon, but these activities were things like Phonetics, Singing workshop, and Lectures. Compared to my other summer program, that was just too much learning for one day. The most fun I had after class was playing soccer, meeting for happy hour in the city, or
3. Where do you feel the study abroad program needs improvement?
The students don't live together and many of them live far from the University. It is therefore very difficult to organize things (especially for those without Handys) unless you plan ahead. There were days when things were going on, but I never heard about it until the next day. It is then hard to bond with people who you don't see except during the class breaks and during lunch. You miss lunch, you miss out on the evenings activities. I think it would have been much better if all the students in the program could have lived nearby. My other complain, about which no one can do anything, is that the University was a half hour with the streetcar north of the city meaning when one left in the morning, one wouldn't be able to get home (because I lived in the city) until late that night. No opportunities for naps for the a tired English speaker and once I got sick, I was quite alone. The best friends I made were the ones who happened to live near me in the city who I could meet up in the evenings and who visited me while when I couldn't go to 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?
My housing situation was supposed to be a homestay, but it turned out that my "family" was one woman whose parents were away for the summer. Her parents normally live in the first floor apartment and she in the second-floor apartment, but instead she stayed on the first floor (we rarely saw her) and a Japanese student (whose German improved, but we had some serious communication problems early on) and I lived on the second floor. Having an apartment to ourselves was cool and we got along fine, but there was little support from the "family" and I was lucky that some of my friends lived nearby (about ten to twenty minute walks away). Lacking any support, alone in a foreign country despite my being somewhat accustomed to German culture, I managed to make the best, but it could have been better and I could have been happier.
5. Describe a memorable experience where you made effective use of your German.
I once got really upset because some of the students, I guess from more traditional backgrounds, made some negative comments about gays, and later that evening while walking home, I informed my friends in quite fluent and passionate German how angry that made me and how I expected more from people. This was coming at a time when President Bush was talking about codifying the prohibition of gay marriages in the Constitution, and I was ziemlich dagegen. =)
6. What do you wish you had done while studying abroad?
I don't know. I think I did quite a bit. I think the trick was talking a lot. Keeping your eyes open for places to buy things. Being willing to ask strangers questions. Saying yes to as much as you can handle. That sort of thing. I could say, "I could have done more." but frankly, I did quite a bit.
Location
What were the advantages or disadvantages of the town or city where the program is based?
Again, the University was a little far from the city and therefore from where I lived. The city itself has very quaint parts (especially Schnoor where all the little shops and streets are) but it has its discos, it's department stores, and of course Beck's. I enjoyed the city very much. I am very proud of a ship in a bottle that I bought there and my Bremen sweatshirt.
Travel
1. What were the most memorable and valuable trips which you took during your stay abroad?
I really liked Leipzig. I really liked Vienna. Not such a fan of Amsterdam, but it's definitely somewhere everyone should experience once.
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 am doing a research project for my senior thesis based on research I am doing in Vienna. I am thankful that I had two months of German summer courses before beginning classes and researching auf Deutsch.
2. How did you get credit for the academic work you did in Europe?
None for the summer courses.
3. How did your academic plans change, if at all, after you returned to Northwestern?
No change, really. I like German a lot more, now that I can speak it.
4. What advice would you have for students contemplating study abroad?
Take a summer course before studying abroad for the year. Speak German whenever possible.
Budget
1. Please provide a basic budget for prospective students. What is the minimum needed to participate in the program?
Program Costs $__about
500_________
Housing $___about
200________
Food $___________
Flight to Europe $___800________
Transportation in town $___________
Books and materials $___________
Incidental expenses $___________
TOTAL $___________
2. How did you find the cost of living in Europe? What financial advice would you give prospective participants?
Cost of living can be cheaper than the US or it can be more expensive. Don't buy electronics or clothes here (unless they are from a flea market or second hand shop). Food here is wonderful, especially Döner Kebabs and bakery treats, so that's where my money goes. If something looks expensive, chances are you can find it cheaper if you ask around or keep your eyes open.
Practical Advice
1. List the three most important things that you wish someone had told you before leaving.
Keep saying yes. There are no water fountains in Europe. Bring deodorant.
2.What special things did you discover during your stay that other students might profit from knowing?
Probably a thousand things, but it's better to just learn it yourself. I would say, don't just compare the country you're studying in to your experience in America. Let the US be the US and Germany be Germany. To really experience a new culture, you have to let go of some of your own which can be frightening because that means putting aside the things that are most familiar and comforting. It is important, then, to strike a balance between your old culture and your new one.
3. Why would you encourage another student to consider studying abroad?
I'm still studying abroad, so I haven't had time to reflect on that.
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.
Convince Americans that there is value in learning another language, another culture, and seeing what is going on outside of the US.
5. Did you find any work or internship opportunities during your stay in Germany?
Looking into babysitting some English kids or tutoring an Austrian who needs help learning English.