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Megan Werner ’08 (Garden City, N.Y.) spent her spring semester studying abroad in Berlin, Germany, and Vienna, Austria.
Werner studied in Berlin and Vienna through MacalesterCollege, which offers a six-month, two-part program. While in Berlin, students improve their German language skills in preparation for the second portion of the program, which features university-level courses in Vienna.
In Berlin, Werner attended the Goethe Institute, where she took an intensive German course which focused on speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.
“There were people from all different ages and countries in my class; however, we all had one common language, and even though we all weren’t perfect at it, we managed to communicate,” says Werner, a psychology and German double major.
Werner stayed with a host family in Berlin.
“I lived with a mother and her five-year-old daughter in a cute apartment,” she says. “We had different schedules, so I didn’t see them that often, but it was fun living with them and seeing how their lives compared to mine.”
In Vienna, she took classes at the Austro-American Institute. There, she learned about the multicultural aspects of Austria. She also studied theater.
“We visited many museums and churches to learn about the country,” says Werner. “We also saw many theater pieces to enhance our knowledge of the Austrian culture.”
In Vienna, Werner lived in a dorm with many other predominately German-speaking students.
“I had a roommate from Austria for the first month of my stay there, and my next roommate was from Hungary,” she says. “We spoke German to one another, and that helped us learn the language. I believe it was beneficial to experience this type of living environment and the living arrangement I had in Berlin.”
While in Europe, Werner traveled to the cities of Dresden, Potsdam, Munich, Fussen, Prague, Rome, Venice, Florence, Viareggio, Pisa, San Gimignano, and Tuscany. Each city allowed her an opportunity to experience a different culture.
“The cultures definitely were different there than at home,” she says. “Through my time abroad, I’ve learned that there are so many things to see when traveling. I have heard about all these places and have only dreamed of going. When I went there, it became possible.”
Werner believes her time abroad was nothing but a positive experience.
“This study abroad program really broadened my knowledge of the world by seeing how other people live, learning certain phrases in different languages to get around, and enjoying the shopping, eating, and nightlife in different areas,” she says.
Her recent experiences have also influenced her future. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and become a teacher.
“This trip has contributed to this plan by providing me the experience to learn a new language and potentially pass my knowledge along to my future students,” she explains.
Werner is a member of German honor society Delta Phi Alpha, German Club, and Alpha Phi sorority. A member of the field hockey and golf teams, she was named to the Student Athlete Academic Honor Roll. She also participates in many volunteer programs through the LandisCommunityOutreachCenter.