Jeffrey Mason

German Department Homepage

Dr. Lys: fly@nwu.edu

Study Abroad Homepage

John Paluch: paluch@nwu.edu

Jeffrey Mason Class of 1998

Jeffrey is now a graduate student in Medill. Feel free to contact him at : jwm247.nwu.edu

Program and preparation for study abroad

1

Where and when did you study abroad?

Goethe Institut, Boppard, Germany

I studied in the summer of 1997 at the Goethe Institute Boppard. ***With brother. It was an 8-week program, though Boppard has a "vario" schedule which allows students to tailor their stay according to their schedules (i.e., 7 weeks, 5 weeks, whatever works for you.)

2

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

I had taken four years of German in high school, but none in college...which means I hadn't taken any German in three years. My speaking skills were very low before I went to Boppard.

3

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

My major was journalism and I hope to work as a foreign correspondent some day, so that is how German fits into my long-term plans. I only took one quarter of German at Northwestern, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

4

What foreign contacts did you have before studying abroad?

I have friends who live in a little German village who might count as "contacts." Other than that, none at all.

5

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

I can't really answer this question, since I wasn't taking any German classes at Northwestern before the summer I spent in Europe.

6

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

I wish I had brought an English/German grammar book with me, as the courses there are taught all in German and books in English are not easy to find.

Program Description

1

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

I think the program was excellent. The instruction was top-notch, and the opportunity to practice my speaking skills in the village (Boppard) was an ideal way to get better.

2

What were the strongest aspects of the program?

Good teaching.

3

Where do you feel the study abroad program needs improvement?

I really wanted a host family experience and the Goethe Institute Boppard was unalbe to arrange that at all. It doesn't seem to me like that should be too hard to arrange, yet they were unable to do it.

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 in a Pension (like a hotel) with a Greek roomate who was also there to study German. The landlady only spoke German, so there was an opporutnity to speak German with her. There were no cooking facilities (which was a major inconvenience) and there was access to a tv.

5

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

One experience where I made effective use of my German was on the train. With my Eurrail pass, I had to mark in a different date than that on which I was travelling, and the conductor challenged me that I had cheated in some way. I responded (in German, of course) that I had followed the rules exactly as detailed in the top portion of the pass. As she flipped to the top to look, I said to her, Es tut mir leid, aber es ist auf Englisch. (I'm sorry, but it's all in English.) She said OK, and moved on to the next passenger.

6

What do you wish you had done while studying abroad?

I wish I had had more opportunities to meet/make friends with the locals..ie, German people. The Goethe Institue draws a very eclectic international student body, and that was the group with whom we all socialized. I would have liked to have met more people outside that student body...more Germans. I think living with a host family would have helped this.

Location

Biggest advantage: it's small, so the towns people know you're from the Goethe Institute and are patient with you while you're practicing your German. A big city would probably be the exact opposite.

Biggest disadvantage: it's small, so there's very little to do. It can get a little boring, especially if you like to party or try a lot of new things. A big city would probably be the exact opposite.

Travel

I loved seeing Berlin, a city of the future. Any of the cities/towns in Germany are fun to visit. *Sights: In Venedig, am Rhein

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 have taken A02-2, and that's it, as I have just recently graduated.

2

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

I did not receive academic credit through Northwestern for my GoetheInstitue work. I wish that I had.

3

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

After I returned, I enrolled in my first German class at this school.

4

What advice would you have for students contemplating study abroad?

For people who have a hard time leaving campus during the regular academic year, try studying abroad during the summer. It worked very well for me. Otherwise, my best advice for students considering studying abroad is this: GO, GO, GO! It will enrich you in ways that staying heresimply cannot.

Budget

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

Program Costs (Housing included)

Food

Flight to Europe this depends on when you're raveling and when you buy your ticket. Buy it in advance if you can.

Transportation in town

Books and matierals

Incidental expenses

TOTAL

$2,000

$350

$1,000

$Minimal, because my town was so small

Included in cost of program. Bring notebooks and pens from home

Unlimited. Bring extra cash for sourvenirs, or to go to concerts or special events. If you can't afford it, go to the free events and keep a journal. If you can, those mementos will last a lifetime. P.S.: Keep a journal anyway.

$3,500

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

Once you get over there, you can live pretty cheaply if you have the mind to do it. Buy food in grocery stores; don't eat out all the time. If you have access to cooking facilities, even better. Remember that a lot of the events are free or cost a minimal charge. Big touristy places that cost a lot of money are often just that: big and touristy. Keep track of how much you spend. I kept a little notebook whenever I took money out of an ATM machine, and wrote down approximately how much I took out (according to the exchange rate in that country at the time.) The biggest cost is getting yourself over there. Once there, you can travel pretty cheaply with a good guidebook and a good attitude.

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, Boppard, Germany I studied in the summer of 1997 at the Goethe Institute Boppard. ***With brother. It was an 8-week program, though Boppard has a "vario" schedule which allows students to tailor their stay according to their schedules (i.e., 7 weeks, 5 weeks, whatever works for you.)
2	How much German did you know before you left for Europe? I had taken four years of German in high school, but none in college...which means I hadn't taken any German in three years. My speaking skills were very low before I went to Boppard.
3	What was your major and how did German fit in with your overall academic plans? My major was journalism and I hope to work as a foreign correspondent some day, so that is how German fits into my long-term plans. I only took one quarter of German at Northwestern, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
4	What foreign contacts did you have before studying abroad? I have friends who live in a little German village who might count as "contacts." Other than that, none at all.
5	Which courses do you wish you had taken before leaving for Europe? I can't really answer this question, since I wasn't taking any German classes at Northwestern before the summer I spent in Europe.
6	How do you feel you could better have prepared yourself for your study abroad experience? I wish I had brought an English/German grammar book with me, as the courses there are taught all in German and books in English are not easy to find.

1	How would you describe and evaluate this study abroad program and the opportunities it provided for learning German? I think the program was excellent. The instruction was top-notch, and the opportunity to practice my speaking skills in the village (Boppard) was an ideal way to get better.
2	What were the strongest aspects of the program? Good teaching.
3	Where do you feel the study abroad program needs improvement? I really wanted a host family experience and the Goethe Institute Boppard was unalbe to arrange that at all. It doesn't seem to me like that should be too hard to arrange, yet they were unable to do it.
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 in a Pension (like a hotel) with a Greek roomate who was also there to study German. The landlady only spoke German, so there was an opporutnity to speak German with her. There were no cooking facilities (which was a major inconvenience) and there was access to a tv.
5	Describe a memorable experience where you made effective use of your German. One experience where I made effective use of my German was on the train. With my Eurrail pass, I had to mark in a different date than that on which I was travelling, and the conductor challenged me that I had cheated in some way. I responded (in German, of course) that I had followed the rules exactly as detailed in the top portion of the pass. As she flipped to the top to look, I said to her, Es tut mir leid, aber es ist auf Englisch. (I'm sorry, but it's all in English.) She said OK, and moved on to the next passenger.
6	What do you wish you had done while studying abroad? I wish I had had more opportunities to meet/make friends with the locals..ie, German people. The Goethe Institue draws a very eclectic international student body, and that was the group with whom we all socialized. I would have liked to have met more people outside that student body...more Germans. I think living with a host family would have helped this.

1	Which courses did you take or do you plan to take to complement or expand on what you have done in Europe? I have taken A02-2, and that's it, as I have just recently graduated.
2	How did you get credit for the academic work you did in Europe? I did not receive academic credit through Northwestern for my GoetheInstitue work. I wish that I had.
3	How did your academic plans change, if at all, after you returned to Northwestern? After I returned, I enrolled in my first German class at this school.
4	What advice would you have for students contemplating study abroad? For people who have a hard time leaving campus during the regular academic year, try studying abroad during the summer. It worked very well for me. Otherwise, my best advice for students considering studying abroad is this: GO, GO, GO! It will enrich you in ways that staying heresimply cannot.