Jonathan Nellemann

German Department Homepage

Dr. Lys: fly@nwu.edu

Study Abroad Homepage

John Paluch: paluch@nwu.edu

Jonathan Nellemann Class of 1999

Jon is spending the 1997/98 in Munich as a participant on the Junior Year in Munich Program.

Please feel free to contact Jon at:

nellemann@

Program and preparation for study abroad

1

Where and when did you study abroad?

Goethe Institut, Düsseldorf, Germany

4 weeks, Summer 1996

2

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

I had taken the A01 sequence at NU.

3

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

Economics and International Studies: Knowledge of German will hopefully make me marketable for a career in international business.

4

What foreign contacts did you have before studying abroad?

Ex-girlfriend in Essen, relatives in Denmark and a firend in Zürich.

5

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

N/A because A01 was my first year of German.

6

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

By reading books for young adults outside of class and before the trip.

Program Description

1

How would you describe and evaluate this study abroad program and the opportunities it provided for learning German?

Excellent short term program for students at all levels.

2

What were the strongest aspects of the program?

Weekend trips, organized school day, excellent resources, native speaking teachers.

3

Where do you feel the study abroad program needs improvement?

Encouraging German speaking and practice amongst participants and housing. I was housed with two other English speakers.

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 on the second story of a German family's house. I had two roommates, one from FLorida, the other from Hong Kong. We had two bedrooms, one bathroom, asmall kitchen and a balcony. We had the opportunity to speak witht he family at breadkfast and in the early evening.

5

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

A group of 4 German guys sat with me at a Biergarten on the Rhein and we carried out a short converstaiton

6

What do you wish you had done while studying abroad?

I wish I had tried to speak with native Germans more frequently.

Location

Advantages
Disadvantages

Centralized eating/shopping/entertainment district
Goethe Institut outside of Hauptbahnhof
Near Netherlands, France, Belgium
Plenty of museums, sports facilities, historical sites
Airport

Many tourists during the summer

Travel

What were the most memorable and valuable trips which you took during your stay abroad?
- Visiting my Danish relatives and my friend in Zürich

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?

Upon my return to NU I took a German placement test to see how much I had learned. It turns out I passed out of A02-1 and A02-2; therefore I took B04 in the fall.

2

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

I filled out an application for credit fromt eh CAS Office of Studies and spoke with Bill Anthony, about how to receive credit.

3

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

They did not change.

4

What advice would you have for students contemplating study abroad?

It pays to begin planning early, because study abroad can be a complicated matter at times.

Budget

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

Program Costs

Housing

Food

Flight to Europe

Transportation in town

Books and matierals

Incidental expenses

TOTAL

$1,050

$370

$300

Frequent flyer miles

$30 (Monthly pass)

Included in program

$200

$1950

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

I found that the cost of living was similar to the northwest suburbs of Chicago. However, this is still very high and many things that we take for granted here are mroe expensive in Euerope. I would advise prospective participaents to plan on purchasing only extra food, souvenirs, and entertainment (includs museums, churches etc.) while in Europe. That means buy the little things that you can't live without while you are still in America (deodorant, shampee, underwear, music, etc.). Following this advice will cut out a lot of trivial costs and it will allow you to spend your money on more desisrable things.

German Department Homepage

Dr. Lys: fly@nwu.edu

Study Abroad Homepage

John Paluch: paluch@nwu.edu

1	Where and when did you study abroad? Goethe Institut, Düsseldorf, Germany 4 weeks, Summer 1996
2	How much German did you know before you left for Europe? I had taken the A01 sequence at NU.
3	What was your major and how did German fit in with your overall academic plans? Economics and International Studies: Knowledge of German will hopefully make me marketable for a career in international business.
4	What foreign contacts did you have before studying abroad? Ex-girlfriend in Essen, relatives in Denmark and a firend in Zürich.
5	Which courses do you wish you had taken before leaving for Europe? N/A because A01 was my first year of German.
6	How do you feel you could better have prepared yourself for your study abroad experience? By reading books for young adults outside of class and before the trip.

1	How would you describe and evaluate this study abroad program and the opportunities it provided for learning German? Excellent short term program for students at all levels.
2	What were the strongest aspects of the program? Weekend trips, organized school day, excellent resources, native speaking teachers.
3	Where do you feel the study abroad program needs improvement? Encouraging German speaking and practice amongst participants and housing. I was housed with two other English speakers.
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 on the second story of a German family's house. I had two roommates, one from FLorida, the other from Hong Kong. We had two bedrooms, one bathroom, asmall kitchen and a balcony. We had the opportunity to speak witht he family at breadkfast and in the early evening.
5	Describe a memorable experience where you made effective use of your German. A group of 4 German guys sat with me at a Biergarten on the Rhein and we carried out a short converstaiton
6	What do you wish you had done while studying abroad? I wish I had tried to speak with native Germans more frequently.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Centralized eating/shopping/entertainment district Goethe Institut outside of Hauptbahnhof Near Netherlands, France, Belgium Plenty of museums, sports facilities, historical sites Airport	Many tourists during the summer

1	Which courses did you take or do you plan to take to complement or expand on what you have done in Europe? Upon my return to NU I took a German placement test to see how much I had learned. It turns out I passed out of A02-1 and A02-2; therefore I took B04 in the fall.
2	How did you get credit for the academic work you did in Europe? I filled out an application for credit fromt eh CAS Office of Studies and spoke with Bill Anthony, about how to receive credit.
3	How did your academic plans change, if at all, after you returned to Northwestern? They did not change.
4	What advice would you have for students contemplating study abroad? It pays to begin planning early, because study abroad can be a complicated matter at times.