Submitted by Lindsay Lerner on the 2017 fall semester study abroad program in London, England…
The last few entries for my blog have told the tales of exploration, travel and discovery. Paris, Germany, and Ireland were all exciting trips, but truthfully, I am not just here to wander around Europe. I am here to further my education. This week’s entry will focus on the differences between the CAPA program and classes at the University of Delaware.
- Class Length: At UD, Monday/Wednesday/ Friday classes are about 55 minutes long, while, Tuesday/Thursday classes are about 1 hour and 15 minutes long. Here, each class meets once a week for an epically long 3-hour class. At first, I will say it was brutal. By the second hour of any class, I would feel my attention slipping. But after a few weeks, I am starting to enjoy them. Classes are more in depth and the materials that we cover are more extensive and detailed. Also, these classes offer students more opportunities to participate, ask questions, and engage in stimulating discussions.
- Presentations: So far, I have not had any exams. I have had to present quite a few times. As a teaching assistant last semester, I really honed my presentation skills. Here, I am presenting more than ever. The one thing I do find frustrating is the fact that most presentations count for a huge chunk of your grade. This is quite unfair for students who may not have the greatest presentation skills.
- Papers: Yesterday, I woke up with my head in my history book on my kitchen table. Needless to say, I am knee deep in papers, I have three papers due next week. That’s all I really have to say about papers.
- Exams: I only have one exam/midterm, I am currently preparing for. The professors here really want you to do well! There is an entire 3-hour review class planned for next week ahead of the exam. I think that the professors at UD also do a really good job with exam preparation for students.
