Rollins in Muenster

Rollins College offers an exciting Spring Semester in Germany. The Rollins in Trier program provides an intensive, in-depth experience in German language, culture and society. It is designed for students at the intermediate or advanced level in German.

Kapito was founded in 1980 by several German language teachers who saw the need for a total immersion program for individuals wanting to work or study in Germany.

Students spend the first eight weeks of their program at Kapito, in a total immersion program. The basis of formal instruction at Kapito is a communicative methodology of language learning that stresses the student's immediate active engagement in language acquisition. Classes at Kapito are small, usually no more than ten students, and instructors have extensive experience in the strategies of encouraging rapid and intensive language acquisition. Recognizing that successful training in another language cannot take place in a vacuum, Kapito provides a series of cultural activities that are designed to provide each student with a fuller sense of German language, life and culture.

Each group is taught by two tutors, and from the very first lesson, the teaching language is German. Kapito puts much importance on personal contact: the school management and the tutors always find time to talk with the participants, to give them information on practical matters or leisure activities and accompany them during the events of the cultural and leisure programs.

Originally founded in 1473, the University of Trier was dissolved in the Napoleanic era and then reestablished in 1970. Unusual for a European university, Trier offers most classes on a single campus, much like American universities. With 11,000 students, it is small compared to other German universities, allowing much more contact between professor and student. Students from all over the world study at Trier, so students have the opportunity to interact with those of many cultures.

Students enroll in regularly scheduled courses at the University of Trier for the second part of the program. Students who study in Trier will select two proseminars and one lecture course. For information about studying at the University of Trier, visit http://www1.uni-trier.de/auslandsamt/ .

Students who complete Spring semester earn academic credit equal to five courses or twenty semester hours. General education requirements, major and minor requirements may be fulfilled with prior approval. The two-month course at Kapito earns eight semester hours of credit, for a total of 160 hours of instruction. The proseminars and lecture courses at the University of Trier all earn four semester hours of credit. To view courses offered at the university go to this website: http://www.uni-trier.de/dienst42.htm .

The city of Münster is located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the cultural center of Westphalia and a significant center for business and administration. Although the city was destroyed in World War II, the historical center of the city was fully restored. Numerous institutes of the university are housed in the small, medieval-like center of the city. The central administration of the university is located in a castle on the Hindenburgplatz. The colorful bustle of the market in front of Münster’s roman gothic cathedral, which lies in the middle of the oldest part of town, attracts crowds several times a week.

The most popular mode of transportation in Münster is the bicycle! A wide net of bicycle paths makes it possible for cyclists to make outings to the green surroundings of the city. In Münsterland, one can visit many castles, which were once inhabited by nobility.

Located on the Mosel River, Trier is the oldest city in Germany. Settled by the Romans around the year 18 B.C., it quickly became a population center and was the seat of power in the Holy Roman Empire.

Today, because of its beautiful architecture, cultural attractions and its location in one of the world's most renowned winemaking regions, Trier is a destination for tourists from around the world.

Trier is centrally located and a base for excursions to places all over Europe. Luxembourg and France are both only a 30 minute train ride. Closeby is Belgium to the northwest and Frankfurt-am-Main to the east.

The faculty and staff of the Rollins program are all long-time residents of Münster & Trier respectively, and most of them teach on a full time basis at Kapito or the University of Trier.

Frau Gretlies Haungs is the Resident Director for the Rollins in Trier program.

Herr Frank-Peter Mansion (not pictured) will be the direct contact with the students on a day-to-day basis.

There are excursions during the program, as well as weekly cultural activities, such as visits to museums, castles, walks through historic neighborhoods and film screenings. These activities help students to come to a deeper understanding of the German culture and way of life through experiences outside the classroom.

Housing

Students generally elect to live with German students in a shared apartment during their stay at Kapito, and may live in a university residence hall or private apartment for the second part of the program in Trier. Students are provided with a food stipend, and either cook for themselves or eat in student cafeterias.

In most cases, students will be entering a culture that is unfamiliar to them, and they will need to interact with the people they meet with respect and a willingness to learn about a different way of life. Applicants to the Rollins in Trier program should have a demonstrated interest in Germany, a desire to become proficient in German, and a desire to learn about German culture and society. They should be aware of and sensitive to cultural differences; they should be willing to learn about these differences, and to adapt to them.

Candidates for the Rollins in Trier program should have at least junior status, and be in good social and academic standing at their home institution. Students must have completed intermediate college German or the equivalent. Preference will be given to students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better.

Spring 2006
Depart New York	February 3
Arrive Münster	February 4
Classes at Kapito begin	February 6
Classes at Kapito end	March 24
Arrive Trier	March 29
Introductory course in Trier begins	March 30
Introductory course ends	April 21
Lectures begin in Trier	April 24
Semester ends in Trier	July 28

Students pay regular Rollins semester tuition, room and board to participate in the Trier program. This includes tuition, full room and board, books, roundtrip international airfare from a US international gateway city, local transportation, and excursions.

Group Flight: The cost of the roundtrip flight from a US international gateway city is included in the program fee. Students are responsible for their transportation to that city.

Payment Schedule: A $500 deposit is required within three weeks of acceptance. It is non-refundable, but does apply to the total program cost. Full payment for the program must be received by November 22.

Financial Aid: Rollins students are generally eligible to receive their Rollins, federal and state financial aid. Some restrictions do apply, so students should check with Student Financial Aid. Students from other colleges and universities should check with their home institutions about the application of their financial aid to the Rollins program.

Spending Money: The amount of money a student spends per week varies greatly according to lifestyle and spending habits. Students generally spend from $70 to $150 per week on personal items, entertainment and travel. One suggested formula for determining the amount of spending money you will need is to add 25% to the amount you usually spend per week here in the U.S.