Germany : Reviews (Berlin)

I really enjoyed the freedom I was given. My favorite moments would be exploring the alps with my classmates on the weekends, or hanging out with the local dance club (Trachtenverein) during the week.

My favorite part of the program was talking to and doing things with my host family, I had a wonderful time with them throughout the trip.

I loved the group outings we took together. These outings not only provided us with more cultural and educational context regarding our classroom topics, but they also provided us with more opportunities to get to know each other!

Living with a host family that only spoke German, really allowed me to grow quickly with my German skills. I think that in itself, while scary, was very rewarding.

I found that the connections made and conversations had with my host parents were the most rewarding aspect of the program. They were incredibly patient and kind, and I look forward to continuing to communicate with them well into the future!

I think the program did a great job of filling a good amount of our time with educational events. For example, we traveled to many historical sites, museums, etc. I think that I learned a lot and it was extremely rewarding to leave the trip knowing that it was a real educational experience.

My speaking confidence greatly improved, and I experienced culture on a greater scale than what is possible on a vacation.

Two months is a lot of time. Do not feel pressured to travel every day. Having a routine and spending time with your host family gives a more nuanced perspective that is totally different from the typical tourist perspective.

I think it's important to get out and try and do things during the program, as although you are there for a decent chunk of time, it does fly by and you would be remiss in not taking full advantage of the opportunities given by this program.

It is extraordinarily tiring. You need to manage your time well and be prepared for how tiring the trip is mentally and physically. Do not go into this experience with any inclination that it is some sort of vacation or anything like that.