Meet Marina Kapitanov (she/her)
Program and Location:
Spring, Heidelberg University: Heidelberg, Germany
Major/Minor:
Biomedical Engineering
Why did you choose to study abroad?
I was raised in a trilingual household, which inspired my love for languages! I studied German for 6 years in middle and high school, and I knew that I wanted to apply my studies one day by going to Germany to study abroad. After being accepted into NC State, I planned early to do a semester abroad, because I knew that it would be difficult to plan one with my strict engineering curriculum. I found the Baden Wurttemberg / North Carolina Exchange program through the NC State Study Abroad Office, and chose Heidelberg due to its location and my ability to take classes that interested me outside of engineering, like astronomy and various scholarly forums. I also found that this program was a perfect length for immersing myself in German culture while not taking too much time off of my engineering courses.
What did you learn about yourself?
As an exchange student, I was allowed to take classes outside of my specialty, and I took advantage of this by taking classes in almost entirely different institutes. While I already take classes outside of my specialty at NC State, the courses I took part in at Heidelberg University with other international and German students helped me really understand the way my engineering background made me tackle problems differently and how I could work better on an interdisciplinary team. Through this semester, I was able to solidify my professional goals to work with others in different fields towards a common goal. Also, taking a break from my engineering classes helped me re-identify why I am studying my degree in the first place, what steps to take next, and what to look forward to in the future. These realizations were very important to me, and were largely due to the re-ignition of my desire to learn through the classes I took and the connections I made with people from around the world.
What was one of your favorite parts of your program?
Where do I start… I was only in Heidelberg for five months, but I got to enjoy so many things. In school, I really enjoyed my courses, especially since I am not usually forced to think in the frameworks of my peers in other disciplines, like anthropology or religious studies. I was introduced to a lot of interesting debates and concepts through my forum courses, and look forward to following the discussions and finding similar courses in the future. Outside of school, I had a great time traveling in Germany and nearby, both by myself and with friends. With this program, only having classes for three days a week allowed me to have time to explore Heidelberg and other German-speaking countries like Switzerland and Luxembourg. I saw some really amazing places and got to experience different aspects of German culture, convincing me that I would like to live and work there one day. I really loved the entire study abroad experience in Heidelberg. I can’t really express one favorite part, but some highlights definitely included seeing live German bands at local music festivals, seeing sunsets and sunrises from the train station coming and going on trips, and biking everywhere.
How were your classes abroad different than if you would have taken them at NC State? Did you take any field trips or do anything outside of the traditional classroom?
The summer semester schedule runs from April to the end of September, and the course system was definitely different than at NC State. First, there are different kinds of classes, some of which last a week for example, some of which last the whole semester, and some of which meet twice in the whole semester. My courses all met once a week, and lasted at minimum an hour and fifteen minutes and at most two hours. Also, the courses I took rarely had weekly homework assigned, and I heard this was consistent with other classes other than the German courses offered for international students and weekly readings for some courses. Your grade for a course is essentially made up of a final exam, or sometimes a presentation and a final paper or project. Almost all of the courses I took were in English, but many professors offered the final exams in English and German, even if the course was in either language. As an international student, I was allowed to be more flexible and take courses exclusively outside of my major. Many of the courses mixed disciplines, like the forums that had respective institutes combining different specialties. These courses required regular attendance (up to two absences) to even be considered for the credit or grade, which was made up of essays. Two of the courses I took, earth history and astronomy, had field trips at the end of the semester, and with the latter I could luckily go to the Max Plank observatory nearby in the city, which I found super interesting! Overall, the learning experience at Heidelberg University is very self-driven, with minimal advisor involvement (I think the only reason I had something like one was because I was an international student). It allowed me to take a lot of classes I wouldn’t have been able to at NC State, both in English and German.
In what ways did your identity have an impact on your experience abroad?
My ability to speak several languages made me feel more comfortable in Europe. I loved having the opportunity and ability to connect with different groups of people in so many places. My semester really drove home the importance of learning other languages for me, especially because I felt as if I could connect better with others when speaking their native language, and often found myself in a situation where I didn’t speak the local language, but found others who I could understand in other languages.
Is there any advice you would give to other students who share your identity?
Don’t hesitate to study abroad! There are several universities, like mine, that offer resources and student groups for students that identify as Hispanic and other identities. Finding others like you can be easier depending on where you study, and it is always nice to put yourself out there and find a support system in a new city!
What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
- Planning in advance before traveling can help avoid a lot of stress in the long run and make the most of your time, but while on the study abroad make sure to take advantage of spontaneous opportunities! If you’re studying abroad in Europe, there’s also a lot of cheap options to visit nearby cities or even countries, it just takes a little digging and asking around.
- Don’t hesitate to talk to locals and other students and ask questions!!! My best trips and experiences came from making the effort to ask questions!
- If you’re going on a study abroad to practice a language, don’t automatically switch to English every time someone who speaks your target language does. Push yourself to practice your language wherever and whenever, and you’ll find that your learning is a lot more beneficial than just taking the quicker and easier way. That is to say, there are important situations where speaking English is necessary to avoid confusion in the future, but otherwise, practice, practice, practice! Use the rare chance to be immersed in your target language abroad!
Would you do it again?
Absolutely! In fact, my time abroad allowed me to explore new opportunities that I look forward to pursuing in the future! I definitely want to go back to Heidelberg, and I know there is so much more of the city and of Germany for me to explore!
