Language stay and studies in the USA:
Experience report by Laura Vogt about her first semester at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY / USA

Laura Vogt

Why did you decide to spend a language study trip in the USA?

As I have been playing competitive soccer for years, I had the unique opportunity to receive a sports scholarship in the USA. I was immediately enthusiastic about the idea of playing soccer in the USA, studying and, of course, perfecting my English language skills.

In which city did your language study trip take place?

My new home is the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY USA. Williamsburg is a very small village with not much more than the university, a PUB, grocery stores and a few restaurants.

When did you complete the language study trip? How long did it last?

I started my studies in August 2020 and it will continue until the end of April 2024.

How satisfied have you been with your studies and language stay in the USA so far? What did you particularly like?

Especially in the special situation with the new coronavirus, I was unsure for a long time whether I would even be able to start my studies on site and I was very happy when I was finally able to go. In my opinion, the combination of school and sport is perfect for improving my language skills, as I was able to improve my vocabulary very quickly. The people at the university are extremely open, so I quickly made new friends and got to know many different accents. I have particularly enjoyed the interaction with my team colleagues and the many different subjects at the university.

What have you gained from your language stay or studies so far, both personally and for your career?

So far, it has only benefited my personal career, as I am now completely on my own and have a lot of commitments. As a student-athlete, I quickly had to learn how to manage my time well, as it's a constant back and forth between the football pitch and the classroom.
For my professional career, my Bachelor's degree will help me a lot, but so will the experience of having studied abroad. I can also make a lot of progress in the sporting field, which will hopefully open the door to a top league.

What tips would you give to anyone interested in studying or doing a language course in the USA?

Language stays are really recommended as they offer countless advantages. On the one hand, you can greatly improve your language skills, at the same time you can make great new contacts and you learn what it's like to be on your own. I can recommend going on a language study trip to anyone and would suggest going through an organization if you don't have any relatives in the country in question. This simplifies the organizational tasks enormously.

Which language study abroad providers have you registered with?

I was put in touch with various universities in the USA through sports scholarships and was finally able to decide on this university.

How satisfied were you with this provider?

I was and am extremely satisfied with this provider, as they were always there to answer my questions and actively assisted me with visa applications etc.

Pictures from my language study trip to the USA (click on the pictures to enlarge):

Overview Language school USA