Humboldt-Institut Vienna

Experience at Humboldt School has been constructive. Teachers have ease in communication, everything seems simple. Courses are complex in content. The location in Düsseldorf has been optimally placed, with quick access to public transport and a beautiful natural environment, very close to the Rhine River. Complex activities alternate with the rest program.

I really loved meeting new people from different countries and getting to know them. The hostel was nice, although my first roommate wasn’t great but the staff was able to move me to a new room and I’m very grateful for that. The hostel food was good and they had a nice variety to choose from. Lunch was alright, but they would run out of the good food and we would be left with some questionable option. The boat looked identical to a real high school- I forgot that I was on a boat sometimes! Classes were good and again I wasn’t happy in my first class (A1, it was very slow to me), but the staff halped me move to a higher class and there I was happier. I do believe my German improved- I now know the basics- but I was expecting it to be a little better from the name “intensive”. With the other students we mostly spoke English, just because we were all at different levels and it was hard to hold conversations for most of us. Most of the activities were fun, although it always seemed like the staff were a bit underprepared. My favorite activity was the ropes course we did one weekend. I wish we had more free time to explore for ourselves in the city because usually they only gave us an hour or two, which went by quickly. I was expecting us to have a bit more freedom from the description, but overall it was a fun program!