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Katherine Loeck, a junior majoring in Journalism and International Studies, writes about her experience studying abroad through the 2005 Language and Culture in Paris, France Summer Institute.
What was my favorite part about studying abroad? Fete de la musique, an annual music festival when bands line the streets of every town in France playing music into the warm June night. The beaches of Eretat where the cliffs and stony beaches of the English Channel take your breath away. Sipping wine along the Seine in the company of some of the most interesting people I've ever met. Sleeping on the grass underneath the dancing lights of the Eiffel Tour, Learning to study myself and a culture that I love while seeing a different side of the world.
The list of memories goes on and on because this six week fieldtrip was the time of my life. Of course the sightseeing was beautiful, the food was delicious and the wine was legally sweet but studying abroad is not just a change of scenery.The experience is a change in perception, learning and lifestyle.I spent two weeks traveling in the western part of France and then took classes in Paris for four weeks.I was also fortunate enough to take weekend trips to Nice and Rome.After all was said and done, I returned to Kansas a different person.
On-location language experience... priceless
Kelsey Coon, a junior at KU participated in the 2005 Advanced German Language in Holzkirchen Summer Institute.
I'll start out by saying that any study abroad experience is priceless. Obviously, there is nothing like getting on-location language experience. If you decide you really want to learn it, you will without a doubt. From the first second I met my host family I spoke to them exclusively in German, even though they both spoke fluent English. Almost all of the younger Germans speak English, so it was my responsibility to remind myself that I was there to practice German. When I left my purse in one of the Pizza Huts in Munich, I spoke frantic, far-from-perfect German to my host parents to beg them for help in getting it back (which I did; and a huge danke to the servers there who found it and didn't steal a single thing)
Later I prepared to visit one of my high school's former German exchange students while searching German language websites and going through the boarding process without using a word of English. With each day I understood more. My host family always had the radio on during the day, so I got used to hearing German music. By the end of the summer, I could understand the words to the all the refrains and some of the verses of the songs.
Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to experience a language that I have studied for five years in a completely different light. The benefits of going abroad are unavailable in the classroom. I love it when I tell people that I studied in France and their first comment is "those rude bastards."Au contraire mon frère, an open mind can take you many places. I plan on going abroad again next spring to Angers because my summer program was so amazing and rewarding that I can't wait to go back.The trip really opened up my intellectual curiosity, encouraging me to further explore the culture and language.
Last year I was unsure about my major and my academic passions but after this summer I realized that French and France was it. What did I learn from studying abroad? I learned about beauty and people and life.Through hard work and practice I gained important skills that I broke back to KU this fall. After being back in the States several months, I realize that if you open your ears to other cultures, you will learn much your own. There is a whole world out tha yourself.
Information Meeting
German Language and Culture Programs in Eutin and Holzkirchen Thursday, February 16 10:30-11:30 a.m. German Dept. Conference Room (Wescoe 2085)
By far the best part of the entire experience was getting to know my host family. The people you meet are the most important and exciting element to the study abroad experience. My host father Olaf invited me to run with his firm in a race for all businesses in the Munich area. On the way to the 1972 Olympic stadium we talked about his music tastes (Meatloaf and Journey) and his former work with the UN in Brussels. He also made a special trip into Munich to pick me up from the airport when I returned from visiting the exchange student. Susanne, my host mother, sat up late with me every night to talk and took me on a walk around a mountain lake. With my 6-year-old host sister Anne, I played different card games, colored, went to the playground, and held hands with her everywhere we went. It was so sad leaving them at the airport. In just 8 weeks time I had become a member of the family. Anne sent me two pictures she colored for Christmas and a copy of the German version ofThe Emperor's New Groove, and in the letter Susanne mentioned they would be coming to visit this summer!
Stephanie Quante and Katherine Loeck pictured here at a café in Paris.
Want to learn a new language or improve your language skills?
The following summer study abroad programs offer language and culture courses.
Bi-lingual Spanish Language Intensive for Social Workers (San Jose, Costa Rica)
Language and Culture in Paris, France
Advanced French Studies in Strasbourg, France
Language and Culture in Eutin, Germany
Advanced German Language in Holzkirchen, Germany
Language and Culture in Florence, Italy
Exploring Contemporary Japan (Hiratsuka, Japan)
Language and Culture in Puebla, Mexico
Spanish Language and Journalism Internship in Puebla, Mexico
Arabic Studies in Ifrane, Morocco
Language and Culture in St. Petersburg, Russia
Language and Culture in Barcelona, Catalonia Spain
Language and Area Studies in L'viv, Ukraine
JAYHAWKS ABROAD
The deadline for applying for all Summer programs is March 11
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SPRING 2006