On “Radboud through the eyes of …”, we discuss how living and studying abroad comes with both challenge and great opportunity, this time from a German perspective!
Today, I am interviewing an International student who has freshly started the second-year of International Business Administration (IBA) at Radboud University: Jan Jürgens! Jan is 20-years old and he was born and raised near Osnabrück, Germany. In the past year, Jan has been able to experience many aspects of Dutch lifestyle and culture, and he is eager to share this with us. From living at Hoogeveldt on a floor with 14 other Internationals to currently living with 9 Dutch students, Jan has certainly set a great example of successful cultural enrichment. And along the way, he has made friends for life. Welcome Jan, and thank you very much for joining me today!
Tell me, how did you experience living in the Netherlands after you first moved to Nijmegen?
“Well, one of the first things I noticed is that studying at a University differs a lot from high school. Nowadays, I feel like I am much more flexible. I can go to classes whenever I like, apart from compulsory work groups of course, while in high school I always had to attend classes and arrive on time. Secondly, I had to adapt very quickly to my new environment. Of course, there was a language barrier involved, but luckily, the Dutch speak English very well. In general, I noticed how English is much more involved in your daily life here. English TV shows and movies, for example, are all spoken in English and have subtitles. In Germany on the other hand, we dub nearly everything.”
What do you consider to be the biggest challenge about studying abroad? And what would you advise to others who want to study abroad or are already doing so?
“One of the biggest challenges for me personally was to get used to the study load. To be honest, in the beginning, I underestimated it as I was still used to the study load in high school, which is much less. Especially before the first exam period, I had to study a lot to catch up. Those were tough days for me. However, I am glad I was able to successfully complete the challenges I faced. Now, I always make summaries of the books, so that I am well prepared for the exams. Therefore my advice to other students would be to start studying as soon as possible. If you divide the study load evenly, you will be less stressed once the exam period begins. Another major challenge was coping with the language barrier at first. Learning the language is definitely one of the biggest challenges when studying abroad. Knowing the Dutch language makes me feel much more integrated than before.”
I’m glad that you mention it, as this brings me to my next question. You told me that you have successfully completed an extensive Dutch language course at Radboud University in the past summer. Would you recommend this kind of language courses to other International students who are studying at Radboud University?
“Definitely! The language course has really helped me a lot in my daily life. At the moment I live with Dutch students only and I try to speak as much Dutch as possible. People seem to react a lot more friendly when they see that you are eager to integrate and adapt to them as well. In my case, it became easier for me to find my current room in the first place, because I could speak some Dutch. Also, this year I joined a sports team with almost only Dutch members. Generally, knowing the local language is very helpful when you want to get to know new people, and communication goes much smoother. And these are just a few examples of the benefits of participating in a language course!”
Can you tell me more about a day in the life of Jan Jürgens? What does your typical day usually involve?
“I always try to get up early so that I can make the most out of my day. Usually, I go to the University, and from there I either go to the gym, meet up with others, or go to the library to study. I always aim to do as much sport as I can during the week, which mostly involves rugby and working out. I am also considering to check out the boxing courses which the sports center offers. Generally, I try to meet as many people and friends as possible during the day. In the evening, I often go out to the city center and party or hang out with friends.”
What are your thoughts on the way in which the courses are taught at Radboud University? Do you consider the Netherlands to differ a lot from Germany in that regard?
“What I find to be very different here in the Netherlands are the work groups and the number of students. In Germany, Business Administration programs may comprise over 800 students. Here, the groups are relatively small, especially in the English taught track. In my opinion, this makes students less of a number, and the relationships among students and teachers are a lot more personal. I really like that about Radboud University. Regarding the work groups, I like how we get to put our knowledge into practice. Furthermore, the exams seem to be easier here, as there are more multiple choice exams than in Germany. In Germany, almost all exams involve essay questions only.”
That rounds up my questions for the interview. Do you have any general comments or tips?
“My advice would be to try and meet as many new people as possible when studying abroad. Do not only try to stick with people with the same nationality as you but get out there and broaden your horizon. You might meet some friends for life! Also, I would like to emphasize the importance of taking enough time to have fun when you are studying abroad. Of course, good grades are important, but I consider cultural enrichment and socializing to be very important as well. So if you have the opportunity to study abroad, remember to enjoy it as much as possible and make the experience worthwhile!”
Those are some wise words! Jan, it was a pleasure to talk to you today. Once again, thank you very much for doing this interview with me. I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your studies, and a wonderful time during the rest of your stay in the Netherlands!
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