MARC ANTHONY CAPORICCIO

Transcription

1 Baden-Württemberg STIPENDIUM This is the Personal Report of MARC ANTHONY CAPORICCIO Originally from: YORK UNIVERSITY Toronto, Canada Degree intended (at Home University): Specialized Honours Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies & Bachelor of Education in Primary/Junior Education On academic exchange: From April August 2010 at Pedagogische Hochschule Freiburg in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. Studying in the Department of: Literature and Languages Primary contact: m.caporiccio@hotmail.com Written on this 31st day of August, Revised and submitted on this 21st of September, 2010

2 MARC ANTHONY CAPORICCIO Personal Report I have decided to organize my report under the following headings, all of which abide by the content requirements outlined by the Baden-Wurttemberg-STIPENDIUM foundation: Preparation, Study, Stay, Engagement, Tips, and Personal Evaluation. PREPARATION Prior to the start of my exchange in Freiburg, I have no knowledge whatsoever with the German language. Throughout elementary and high school (both of which I attended in Toronto), I had studies French. I had also studied in Italy for two months, where I learned the foundation of the Italian language. Both of these experiences learning european languages proved to be helpful when attempting to learn German in Germany. On two separate occasions I had the opportunity to connect with German international students (from the PH) who were studying at York University. In March 2010, York International, the York University department coordinating the academic study exchanges and internships, arranged for PH international students to meet with the York students who were planning on attending the PH in the coming spring and summer months. Together, we discussed the city of Freiburg, cultural differences, and popular (international) student experiences. I found the information session to be very helpful. A few weeks later, the York University students met with the German students once more to review the basics of German language (greetings, directions, popular travel-related nouns and verbs, etc.). I also found useful preparation material on the official website for PH Freiburg, and in the York International offices. An entire package describing the University and the city of Freiburg was made available to students on the PH site, while York International had lengthy question and answer interview records, completed by previous participants of the York-PH Freiburg exchange. I found these interviews to contain many useful tips and plenty of valuable insight into the Freiburg exchange experience. Finally, I sought support and more information from a close friend who had studied at PH Freiburg in the past. She greatly assisted me with tips and tricks pertaining to travel and culture. STUDY It took my fellow international students and myself a little while to grow accustomed to the grading and credit value system in place at PH Freiburg. In Canada, students are given letter grades reflective of their understanding of course material, and their ability to apply course knowledge in different contexts. A+ is the highest grade one can achieve, followed by an A, A-, B+, B, and so on. At the PH, we discovered that students receive numerical grades, with the best possible mark being a 1. We also found the shine system to be quite interesting. I personally found it quite peculiar to have to track down each of my professors and each department 2

3 secretary with my completed shine for a signature and stamp at the end of the term. In Canada, our final grades are posted (or shared) entirely online. This proved to be a slightly humorous venture, as I had been forewarned about the infamous German bureaucracy. Over the course of four and a half months, I was enrolled in 5 courses. They were as follows: German; Happiness and Education (Hauptseminar); Media Literacy and Language Learning (Hauptseminar); Non-Fiction for Boys, Fiction for Girls (Hauptseminar); Staging a New Play (Seminar). I would learn that course requirements fluctuate, depending on the type of course. Hauptseminars, for instance, require students to complete (and be graded on) more work (i.e. participation, a presentation, and a final paper) than a Seminar. Once again, I found myself comparing the PH Freiburg system to that of York University in Toronto. While the terminology was different, the idea was very similar: the more work one completed, the more credit(s) one earned. As for my professors, I found them all to be incredibly accommodating and approachable. Moreover, I found them to be very open to suggestion. Generally speaking, lectures were semi-structured, with space for dialogue and discussion. Classrooms varied in size, with the smallest consisting of 10 students (German) and the largest consisting of 30 students (Non-Fiction for Boys, Fiction for Girls). Overall, I was very interested in the material presented, and found the change of academic environment to be refreshing. STAY The stay was unexpectedly comfortable. I had previously lived in a traditional-style residence at my home University for two years, which consisted of long hallways and shared, co-ed bathrooms. My room and residence at PH Freiburg were unlike anything I had previously experienced. I arrived to find myself placed in a single room, sharing a kicthen and two bathrooms with four female roommates. Moreover, I was excited by the news that my flat was multi-cultural. While three of my roommates were German-born, one students was from Sweden. My experience in residence at PH Freiburg was thoroughly enjoyable. I found myself establishing strong friendships with the students living across the hallway, one of whom I now consider to be a best friend. The student diversity of the residence building at PH Freiburg truly enabled students to discover more about other cultures and about themselves. I found myself in deep discussions on cultural differences with my flatmates and other residents on more than one occasion. Not only was cultural dialogue sparked in the residence at PH Freiburg, but a real community feeling seemed to emerge along with a feeling of safety and belonging. In addition, the residence was in an ideal location - right on campus! Punctuality wasn t an issue, as classes were literally down the road from my bedroom. All of these experiences and characteristics made my living experience in residence a very enjoyable one. 3

4 As for Freiburg, words cannot describe how highly I think of the city I referred to as my home. Littenweiler was an ideal refuge for the spring and summer months, with treecovered mountains surrounding campus and various means of public transit (trains and trams) a small walk away. The train (DB, or Deutsche Bahn ) and tram service was very reliable, and both were connected to networks that could easily transport a person to a nearby town or another European city. Traveling was a breeze, although I found it very hard to leave Freiburg. Freiburg isn t full of tourists, nor is it full of business men. It s a comfortable, youthful, environmentally-conscious city with a rich history and a diverse array of social, cultural, and artistic events and festivals scattered throughout the year. In Freiburg, automobiles share the roads with bicycles, a towering sandstone Cathedral towers over a daily fresh fruit, flower, cheese, bread, and meat market, and students are ubiquitous. Freiburg gave me so much, but most importantly it gave me the invaluable gift of time: the time to reflect on my academics but also on my life; time to reassess my priorities; time to re-evaluate my personal goals; time to rethink my own identity. Freiburg taught me so much about who I am and who I d like to become. The fresh air, the sparkling river, and the many opportunities to soak in the culture of the city were much more marvelous than I could possibly describe. ENGAGEMENT PH Freiburg provided international students with multiple opportunities for engagement, both inside and outside the classroom. In our orientation to our program and the University, international students were informed of the Tandem Partner program. Tandem Partners is an optional language development program wherein Englishspeaking international students are paired with a native German speaking student. As a pair, each member works to teach their partner their native language. In exchange, each partner will also be taught a non-native language. International students were also invited to join the International Club, offered through the Studentenwerk. Some international friends and I did join the club, which organized several events throughout the semester, and also offered trips and other programs at discounted rates. Through the Studentenwerk International Club, I did participate in a day trip to Milano, and had a wonderful time! Of course, there were other not-so-obvious methods in which students could engage with campus life. Personally, I was very interested in auditioning for the PH Choir. Unfortunately, I missed the audition date and was unable to join. However, I did support the choir later on in the semester by attending their concert. I also attended several open mic nights at the local student coffee shop, the KuCa (Kultur Cafe). I found myself observing German students at the PH, and taking note of their involvement on campus, or how they were involved on campus. With the city of Freiburg having a rather large student population, it wasn t uncommon to catch wind of a meeting regarding increased tuition fees, or an upcoming student 4

5 protest. I appreciated how active a role some of the students took in their postsecondary education. However, I was also disheartened by the apathetic stance that many (perhaps most) of the students took on issues related to their education. What I found most enjoyable was the opportunity to engage in campus life through my coursework. As previously mentions, I found that many of my teachers were openminded, and open to suggestions. In one course, in lieu of a final paper, I was actually able to work with a group on a radio program for the campus radio station. Together with two other students, my group assembled a radio program on the international student experience in which we interviewed current international students, studying at PH Freiburg, on their experience. HANDS-ON TIPS My tips are simple ones: Stay organized. Find a way to sort and file all study-abroad information and resources. Learn the language. Make a genuine effort to pick up as much German as possible. Immerse yourself in the culture. Take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. If possible, purchase (or rent) a bike!! Biking is one of the best ways to get around (and see) the beautiful city of Freiburg. Keep a journal. Document your experiences, culture shock, inner thoughts, reflections, and changes in perspective. You ll be glad you did! Check cheap travel websites before booking a ticket. Use travel websites like ryanair and for the cheapest rates and deals to nearby European cities. Pack light. Chances are you ll be returning home with more than you came with. PERSONAL EVALUATION My experience was far more profound, enlightening and personally fulfilling than anything I could have expected. Without a doubt I would highly recommend the PH Freiburg exchange to any of my peers at York University. At present, I have returned to my hometown of Toronto, Canada. On numerous occasions since my return, I ve walked into a room of familiar, smiling faces. Welcome back! they all exclaim. Once the greetings have come to an end, I brace myself for the next question: How was it? The only words to describe my experience in Freiburg are life changing. A very sincere thank you for awarding me with the very generous Baden-Wurttemberg- STIPENDIUM scholarship. The award has greatly supported me in drawing crosscultural comparisons and similarities, learning more about my own identity, and widening my global perspective. 5