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 Name: Nicholas Taylor
Nationality: USA
Country of Residence: USA
Age: 20
Profession: Student of music performance and musicology
Educational Background: Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY
Languages Spoken: English and my German is getting there!
How are you finding you studies?
The first week was very challenging but after I got into the swing of things and the jet-lag wore off, the classes became exciting and very engaging.
What do you think is the BEST thing about studying here?
The best thing is the city. It is the perfect size to have an enjoyable learning experience. There are so many things to do but it is not too overwhelming.
How do you find the relationship between students and teachers?
The teachers are very good about only speaking in German to the students. I knew this coming into the program, but hadn’t realized how challenging it would really be.
What is your accommodation like?
I am staying in the Student Residence. It is a great place to live for a few weeks, but if someone is going to be in Heidelberg for a number of months and/or wants complete immersion in the language and culture, I would recommend living with a host family.
What is the most interesting thing you have done or discovered in Heidelberg?
The concerts. I have attended a number of organ performances at the Heiliggeistkirche put on by Sacred Music students from the University. I also went to Mannheim to see a production of Wagner’s Parsifal.
What kind of tips on living and studying in Heidelberg can you give other potential students?
At first, the public transportation can be intimidating, as with any city, but the street car and bus system is extremely reliable and convenient. And go to the WLE Office! There are computers for students to use and the staff is very helpful and friendly!
Are there any really interesting shops, museums, cinemas, markets, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs that you have been to?
I had a great time going to various theatres on Hauptstraße. The Gloriette theatre frequently shows films in English with German subtitles which I really enjoyed.
Do you think you will come back to Heidelberg or another part of Germany?
I would like to come back to Heidelberg and also to Germany to visit some bigger cities such as Berlin and Munich.
 Name: Ayako Shibata
Nationality: Japanese
Country of Residence: Japan
Age: 19
Profession: Student
Educational Background: 2 years study at Dokkyo University
Languages Spoken: Japanese, German, English
Hobbies and Interests: Listening to music, volleyball
Is this your first time in Germany?
Actually it’s my second time to Germany. I visited Germany in 2002 with my family.
How do you like Heidelberg?
Everything is wonderful, because there are so many historical buildings here and the town is so beautiful. The local people are also very friendly.
How are you finding your studies?
I think my studies here are really helping me a lot to improve my German skills, especially my listening skills. My teacher tries her best to use very clear and simple German in class, so I can understand almost everything she says.
How did you find the relationship between students and between students and teachers?
I think that all students in my school are very friendly and outgoing, so it takes no time to make friends here. Concerning the relationship between students and teachers, I really like that students feel comfortable enough to ask our teachers any question at all. The educational environment is perfect!
What is the most interesting thing you have done or discovered in Heidelberg?
In Heidelberg, people are allowed to enter shops with their pets, which was quite a surprise for me. And even more surprising for me was that the pets are very quiet, which I understood to mean that Germans take the full responsibility for raising their pets.
Are there any really interesting shops, museums, cinemas, markets, restaurants, pubs or nightclubs that you have been to?
There are some very nice nightclubs, especially a club called Café Bistro. The staff there are very kind and the music is cool.
What were the major (cultural, social or educational) differences from your home country that you experienced when you first arrived in Heidelberg (and maybe still find yourself struggling with)?
For Japanese people it is very important to take a hot bath in the evening. When I arrived here in Germany, I was really alarmed when I saw that there is only a shower in the dormitory’s bathroom.
What advice / tips would you give others who plan to come to Heidelberg?
My best tip is: please take advantage of your time here in Heidelberg. There are so many interesting things and places to discover. I just wish I had more time here!
Do you think you will come back to Heidelberg / Germany?
Yes, for sure! I would love to spend more time in Germany in the future. My dream is to work someday in Germany.
 Name: Brian Flanagan
Nationalitiy: USA
Country of Residence: USA
Age: 21
Profession: Student
Educational Background: Bachelor of Arts (Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA)
Languages Spoken: English, German
Hobbies and Interests: Music and Art
Is this your first time in Germany?
No, last November I visited Lüneberg in northern Germany for several days. Outside of Hamburg, it is an attractive city with mostly young people living there.
How do you like Heidelberg?
As a musician, Heidelberg is a very inspiring place for me. It is an intellectual university town with beautiful views and surroundings, contributing to a great atmosphere.
How are you finding your studies?
When they say “Intensive Language Program”, they are not kidding. The work is rigorous, but I am amazed at the amount I have learned in such a short time.
How did you find the relationship between students and between students and teachers?
The relationship between students is friendly and laid-back. We go out, eat and travel together. The teachers are helpful and do their best to make sure every student understands the material.
Were where you accomodated and how did you like your accomodation?
I stayed at the Student Residence. It has worked out great because I am sorrounded with other people my age and I have the chance to meet people from all over the world.
What is the most interesting thing you have done or discovered in Heidelberg?
Because Heidelberg is such an old town with so much history, the most interesting thing for me is finding out about its rich past. The history of the old buildings, such as the castle, and the lives of people who have lived here including Mark Twain and Robert Schumann is what intrigues me the most.
Are there any interesting shops, museums, cinemas, markets, restaurants, pubs or nightclubs that you have been to?
One of my favourite places to go is an Irish Pub called O’Reillys. They have great food, a great atmosphere and every second Sunday they have an “open mic night” which gives me a chance to play my music in Heidelberg.
What were the major (cultural, social or educational) differences from your home country that you have experienced when you first arrived in Heidelberg (and maybe still find yourself struggling with)?
When I first arrrived, it took me a while to adjust to the time difference. Also, I was not able to eat most of the food I was used to in America, but I find German food generally good and easy to adjust to.
What advice/tip would you give others who plan to come to Heidelberg?
Just make sure to bring warm clothes for the winter and a camera for lots of pictures. Other than that, be ready for an unforgettable experience.
Do you think you will come back to Heidelberg / Germany?
Yes, I am already making plans to spend a part of next spring in Heidelberg.
William G. Roberts, Jr.AmericanUSA60RetiredMasters of Business AdministrationEnglishGolf, Photography, TravelIs this your first time in Germany?No. I have travelled to Germany once each year for the past five years. In addition, as a child I lived there for four years when my father was in the service.How do you like Heidelberg?Heidelberg was wonderful! The weather in late September was great. Heidelberg is cosmopolitan with a variety of activities and restaurants.How are you finding your studies?The German language is difficult for me. However, I found the classes to be interesting and my placement correct. The teacher was excellent and very professional.How did you find the relationship between students and between students and teachers?Everyone seemed to get along very well.Where were you accommodated and how did you like your accommodation?I chose to stay with a host family and found my accommodations to be very good.What is the most interesting thing you have done or discovered in Heidelberg?I had visited Heidelberg before and had seen all the tourist attractions. This time, I wanted to see more of the old city and make use of the train system on the weekends. I found my experience with the trains to be quite enjoyable.How did you find the WorldLink Activities you attended during your stay in Heidelberg?During my stay in Heidelberg the activities were to have dinner at a local restaurant and to attend a movie. Both activities were enjoyable.What were the major (cultural, social or educational) differences from your home country that you experienced when you first arrived in Heidelberg (and maybe still find yourself struggling with)?The “major” difference I found was the fact that many people walk, ride their bicycles, or use public transportation to get around. I was not used to doing without my car. What advice / tips would you give others who plan to come to Heidelberg?I would suggest that others should read the information provided and research Heidelberg and its history before going. Plan what you want to see and then do it.
Do you think you will come back to Heidelberg / Germany?
Yes, next year!
 Name: Richard James
Nationality: Australian
Country of Residence: Australia
Age: 19
Profession: Student
Educational Background: 1 year University of Commerce (Liberal Studies)
Languages Spoken: English, German
Hobbies and Interests: Sport, Music, Travel, Art
How are you finding you studies?
I have really enjoyed the classes. I think the main reason is that because the study is intensive and I can notice myself improving each week, which is rewarding.
What do you think is the BEST thing about studying here?
Heidelberg has been a great place to study, because it is a beautiful town and not too big, also because it is a University city there are lots of other students around.
How do you find the relationship between students and between students and teachers?
Because my class was small I got to know the other students as well as the teacher very well. Everyone gets along great, and I think the teachers are very good!
What is your accommodation like?
I lived with a guest family who where really fantastic, very accommodating and nice. They always had time to talk to me if I wanted to practice German.
What is the most interesting thing you have done or discovered in Heidelberg?
Tourist-type things: walking through the old town, seeing the castle and the philosopher's path.
What kind of tips on living and studying in Heidelberg can you give other potential students?
If you really want to improve I think it is important to try and speak as much German as possible outside the class and watch TV to improve comprehension. Living with a family was helpful in this regard.
What were the major (cultural, social, educational, etc.) differences from your home country that you experienced when you first arrived in Heidelberg?
I was actually surprised at how similar the lifestyles were between here and my home. I didn't really have any trouble settling in, and did not have any major difficulties.
Do you think you will come back to Heidelberg or another part of Germany?
I definitely will come back to Germany to travel more thoroughly in the future. Heidelberg may be a good place to start because I now know some people here as well as my way around the city.
 Name: Hyunchul Kim
Nationality: Korean
Country of Residence: Korea
Age: 24
Profession: Student
Language Spoken: Korean
Hobbies and Interests: Sports
Is this your first time in Germany?
No, I was backpacking around Europe in 2001 and visited Berlin and Munich in Germany at that time.
How do you like Heidelberg?
It is small and beautiful. I think it is a perfect place to study.
How are you finding your studies?
In general, it was very good. The teachers explained things from our perspective and the way they integrated the curriculum and text was very pertinent.
How did you find the relationship between students and between students and teachers?
It was all very good. I had a great time with students and teachers at the residence and school. Thanks to the friends from all over the world (America, UK, Mexico, Cypress, Poland, Switzerland etc.), I interacted with many different cultures as well.
Where were you accommodated and how did you like your accommodation?
I stayed at the residence and it was good in general except for the bed.
What is the most interesting thing you have done or discovered in Heidelberg?
Heidelberg is totally different from my hometown so everything was very interesting. However, meeting people with different backgrounds and building close relationships with them was the most interesting thing I found in Heidelberg.
How did you find the WorldLink Activities you attended during your stay in Heidelberg?
Because of some personal matters, I was only able to attend one activity organized by WLE. Jan tried his best to show me as much as possible and with his kind assistance, I had a great time.
What were the major (culture, social or educational) differences from your home country that you experienced when you first arrived in Heidelberg (and maybe still find yourself struggling with)?
Using the public transportation in Germany is totally different than in Korea. First I was struggling with the system but I was impressed to find the system is based on ‘Trust’ in people and their conscience.
What advice/tips would you give others who plan to come to Heidelberg?
I had some fears about going overseas to study but they turned out to be irrelevant. There was always someone who helped and supported me in Heidelberg. So my advice is not to worry too much about the new life in Heidelberg. Instead be more positive and active so that you can gain more from your new experience.
Do you think you will come back to Heidelberg/ Germany?
Yes, I would love to!
Shukuko OeJapaneseJapan20Student2 years Kwansei University of HyogoJapanese, English, GermanSports, listening to music, movies, cookingHow are you finding your studies?I find my studies very interesting. German is a little difficult for me but I have lots of fun together with my classmates who come from so many different countries. I also like the teaching methods here in Heidelberg.What do you think is the BEST thing about studying here?Definitely the best thing about being here is that I not only learn the German language, but I am also gaining a deep understanding of German culture. Making German friends and discovering this interesting country is a great adventure for me!How did you find the relationship between students and between students and teachers?I have a really good relationship with most of my classmates and we do many things together like celebrate birthdays, travel all over Germany, cook etc. Regarding my teachers I especially enjoy the interactive communication here between teachers and students. We can ask any question and teachers do their best to always give us a good answer.Where are you staying and how do you like your accommodation?First I was staying at the student dormitory but than I found a single room apartment in Heidelberg where I moved to one week ago. The dormitory was a great place to meet people from all over the world and to use and practice my German. That is what helped me to greatly improve my German skills.What is the most interesting thing you have done or discovered in Heidelberg?For me it was really surprising how many different kinds of beer you can find here in Germany and the taste is very different from Japanese beer!What kind of tips on living and studying in Heidelberg can you give other potential students?I would like to encourage potential students to learn a lot about their home country before they come to Heidelberg. When I met students from other countries they were always asking me out about Japan and sometimes I could not answer their questions! In situations like this I wish I had known more about Japan and Japanese culture.Are there any really interesting shops, museums, cinemas, markets, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs that you have been to?I can highly recommend “Halle 02”, a music club which is really huge and always crowded. There they play various kinds of music. What I love most at “Halle 02” is the friendly atmosphere!What were the major (cultural, social, educational etc.) differences from your home country that you experienced when you first arrived in Heidelberg?In the beginning I found it strange that it seems normal for Germans to drink beer for lunch. Another strange experience for me was to see couples kissing on the street - and that Germans can live without Karaoke is still unbelievable for me!Do you think you will come back to Heidelberg / Germany? What for especially?Yes, I will definitely come back to Heidelberg. I plan to study Education, Arts or German literature at the University of Heidelberg.
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