Engleski A - 2023. jesen, reading 1.

A Adèle

I’ve benefited greatly from participating in the students’ exchange programme. The most rewarding thing for me was being able to push myself to do better, whether it meant putting more time in writing research papers or preparing for the exams. It was all a bit intense, but I still managed to keep calm when it seemed something went wrong or I’d run out of valuable ideas. And although the deadlines were strict, we were able to do everything on time. Actually, I’m going to be here for a while longer to prepare for my PhD, and maybe even get a part-time job if my scholarship application falls through.

B Benicio

Compared to my work schedule at university back home, it looked as if I would have a lot of free time to go places and meet people. It turned out that the ‘free time’ was intended for studying, so the course was equally time-consuming. But I made it my priority to find opportunities for socialising and travelling as well. After all, that’s what these exchanges are about. And getting to know people you can rely on after you graduate is a great asset as they may also become an important network of contacts later on in life.

C Caterina

In my country we have strict standards that you need to satisfy to perform well in your studies. Serious work contributes to the deep understanding of a subject, which, despite all the stress, is an indisputable advantage of such an approach. And I expected no less here. The challenge was facing unfamiliar situations and learning to cope with everyday problems on your own. Although it’s a great asset, it can be very scary at times! This is especially true if you don’t know many people and are struggling with the language. Frankly, it is difficult to describe the whole spectrum of feelings, enthusiasm and sense of achievement that this exchange has given me.

D Darin

There are many upsides of being an exchange student, in my opinion. In an increasingly globalised world, more and more companies are looking for students with international experience and cosmopolitan views. Studying abroad proves that you can adapt quickly to changing situations and that you are a good problem solver, which will, I hope, result in a better job offer. It also gives you a much needed understanding of different cultures, which you can do properly only if you speak their language – so I tried to make the most of my thrilling exchange programme.

E Edita

Studying at another university can be very different to what you’re used to at home, particularly if you’re studying abroad for the first time. But it was good to find out that a more hands-on research-based approach to learning worked better for me than any other. It depends, of course, on what you’re studying too. And although I was already used to living alone and relying more on friends than family, in a different country you see yourself in ways you never could have before. And I like what I see. In fact, if it were up to me, I would definitely stay here.

F Frédéric

I preferred that most of my classes started after midday, and we spent only 3 – 4 hours at university. This doesn’t imply that we didn’t study properly. And I loved the international atmosphere. Everyone already spoke English, and everyone was into politics. The sheer number of people I talked to in one place without the inconvenience of travelling extensively taught me more about other cultures than the internet ever could. Moreover, spending a semester abroad gave me an opportunity to reflect on current global affairs and shifted my perspective for good.