Summer in Prague
Spend a life-changing semester abroad in one of Eastern Europe's most vibrant and historic cultural centers. Study the region's literature where it was born. Trace the steps of Kafka and Kundera as you navigate the narrow cobblestone streets. Write in the midst of Prague's Gothic elegance and contemporary artistic atmosphere...
About the Program
The Fiction Writing Department of Columbia College Chicago is offering two summer sessions in Prague during the summer of 2009. Undergrads will take 4-8 hours of Fiction Writing Department credit; grads will take 3-6. Courses are open to all Columbia students, and can be arranged for students-at-large and students from other institutions.
Benefits of the Program
More and more, employers across many industries are realizing the value of graduates who have international study experience. Seeing and learning about other cultures firsthand is a tremendous asset in today's global business community. Students with international study experience broaden their horizons, literally and literarily, and gain the accompanying personal and marketable advantages in their writing and worldview. It is what will make these five-weeks last—and pay off—forever.
Session I: May 23 – June 25
Session II: June 27 – July 30
Information Meeting
Monday, April 6
5:00 pm - 5:45 pm Room 1204
624 S. Michigan Building
Proposed Courses Offered (contingent on enrollment):
Fiction Writing: Advanced
Creative Nonfiction (Session II only)
Critical Reading and Writing: Contemporary European Authors (Session I only)
Critical Reading and Writing II: Kafka (Session II only)
Dreams and Fiction Writing
Session Fees*
Approximate fees for one session will be $2,950. (Subject to change). Please contact the Fiction Writing Department for Deposit Deadline information: 312-369-7611.
Session Fees include:
Airport Transfers
Shared Occupancy Lodging—33 nights
Laundry Service
Housekeeping Service
Daily Breakfast
Print Cards
Monthly Transit Pass
Field Trips and Tours
Welcome Dinner
Final Dinner, Reading, and Celebration
Internet Access
Various course fees
*Fees do not include tuition, airfare, or daily meals. The total fee may change slightly due to fluctuations in the foreign currency markets.
* Deposits will be refunded in the unlikely event of program cancellation.
Course Descriptions
Critical Reading and Writing: Contemporary European Writers (55-4208PR)
This course researches the writing processes of contemporary European writers, including the ways in which writers' reading and responses to reading play influential roles in the overall fiction writing process. Journals and other writings will be used as examples of how writers develop dimensions of their own fiction and see their work in relation to other writers. The course involves study of the development of diverse techniques and voices of some of the most important European writers whose lives, works, and inspiration are inseparable from Prague, including Kafka, Hacek, Capek, Meyrink, and Kundera.
Critical Reading and Writing II: Kafka (55-4214)
Students read and research the complete works of Franz Kafka. Students will visit various sites in Prague where Kafka lived, worked, wrote, and died. The course will focus on Kafka’s writing processes, including ways in which Kafka’s reading and responses to reading influenced his work. Students use journals and other writings to explore Kafka’s work and to examine their own.
Dreams and Fiction Writing (55-4203)
This course helps writers relate the rich, various, and powerful world of dreams to the needs and delights of imaginative prose fiction. Students keep journals of their dreams, read and write dream stories, and study how dreams relate to their fiction writing. Students also research how dreams have influenced work of well-known writers. This is a Fiction Writing Department Specialty Writing course.
Fiction Writing: Advanced (55-4106)
Workshop uses Story Workshop® approach to develop facets of writing short fiction and novels. Students intensively explore new fictional possibilities as well as have the option of continuing to develop strong writing material from previous classes. Workshop may have an emphasis on point of view and/or rewriting.
Creative Nonfiction (55-4319)
Course concentrates on application of fictional and story-writing techniques to non-fiction writing in the non-fiction novel, story, and memoir, as well as in travel, scientific, and anthropological writing. Books such as Norman Mailer's Armies of the Night, Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, and Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi are studied. There may be a particular regional emphasis on Central Europe.
FAQ's
I'm not sure I can go, but what can I do now in case I am able to go?
Whether you're definitely going or unsure right now, the first thing to do NOW is to get a passport if you need one (check your expiration dates!). The Department of Homeland Security is now requiring passports for Canada and the Virgin Islands, so waits for passports have nearly tripled. You'll want to avoid the "Rush" fee upwards of $600. Get a passport now!
Is financial aid available for this program?
Yes. However, because no aid is specifically awarded for Summer semester, students are advised to apply heavy for Spring, and use the extra funds for Summer. Please contact Student Financial Services for assistance.
Do I need to pay for everything upfront?
No. The only upfront expense required is the $1,000 deposit toward session fees. The deadline for this deposit is April 3, 2009, though paying it earlier is recommended. Summer tuition and the balance of your session fees are paid through CCCPay or at the Cashier's window (3rd floor, 600 S Michigan). Students may contact SFS to arrange installment payments.
Do I need health/medical insurance that's valid overseas?
Yes. Students are required to have valid medical/health insurance that's valid overseas in order to participate in Study Abroad Programs. If you don't have insurance, there are many affordable temporary plans available for students (Google "temporary insurance for students abroad"). Compare all the companies, but you can start with Student Care, a division of Koster Insurance (provider of health and sickness coverage for Columbia College Chicago students). Go to: https://www.studentcare.com/study_abroad_home.php If you have med/health insurance, make sure your policy provides coverage overseas.
How many classes can we miss in a session?
None. It is an intensive study program, and students are expected to attend all sessions.
Does Columbia arrange my travel?
No. Students are responsible for arranging all travel. Be sure to arrange travel so it doesn't overlap during class times, particularly first and last days of class.
May I come early? Leave late?
Yes, as long as you arrange your accommodations. For the 1st Session, you must check in on May 23 before 4 p.m., and check out by 11 a.m. on June 25. For the 2nd session, you must check in by 4 p.m. on June 27, and check out by 11 a.m. on July 30.
If I've taken Fiction Seminar before on campus, can I take it again in Prague?
No. It is a non-repeatable course. This course is only available to those who've taken two Advanced Fiction courses on campus, or Advanced Fiction in the first session of Prague.
Is there a computer on site?
Yes. All students will have access to the hotel computer. However, all guests have access to this computer so it is strongly recommended that you bring (or borrow) a laptop for checking e-mails and producing work. You should also bring a flash drive for saving and printing your work at local copy centers using your provided print card.
Will the hotel accommodations be quiet enough to work in at any time of day?
Yes. The hotel will be a quiet zone so people can study and write. No loud talking, music, etc. will be permitted. The hotel accommodates other guests besides our group, so while we are not responsible for the behavior of others, it is imperative that we respect everyone's right to a quiet and peaceful stay.
What more can you tell me about the accommodations?
Residence 4 B&B is a totally renovated, historic five-story building (with elevators!). It is located in Prague 7 (Umelecka 4), a quiet, safe, yet vibrant residential zone surrounded by the Prague National Art Museum, gorgeous parks, including Letna Park and Stromovka Park, one of the city's largest. Suitable for relaxing, but still close to the center of Prague, this area is within ten minutes from the historical center of Prague, and is a nice walk to the Castle through Letna Park. Classes will be held on-site. Included in your session fees is a daily breakfast, served every morning from 7: 30 a.m. till 10: 30 a.m. Some apartments have balconies; all apartments have a sitting room, satellite TV, telephone, a "dorm" refrigerator, and a private full bathroom. Internet access, maid service and weekly laundry are included in your session fees. Residence 4 B&B is a five-minute walk to all major tram stops that run day and night, and is surrounded by numerous canteens, cafes, fast-food eateries, pizzerias and many other restaurants, small and big convenience stores, Internet cafes, grocery stores, and shops.
If cabs aren't recommended, how will I get to and from the airport?
Airport transfers are included in your session fees. Airport transfers to and from our host hotel are valid for the first day of lodging in this hotel, and on the day of checkout only. We will provide you with information regarding pick-up times. If you are already in Prague, you must get to the accommodations on your own.
What are the approximate flight costs?
As of October 2008, the average cost of round-trip airfare from Chicago is $1300.
Do you recommend any Web sites and travel guides for Prague?
Praguepost.com and expats.com are good sites to visit. Lonely Planet and Eyewitness Travel have very good books. Also, Google "Prague travel" and see all the goodies you'll get.
What's the best way to book travel?
First, order your passport, then book your flight as far in advance as possible for the best rates. You can go on-line to arrange your flights (expedia.com, kayak.com, among others). We suggest that you wait until you are in Europe to arrange any rail or other regional travel. First, it's cheaper; second, you'll have a better idea of what your free weekends will be then. Travel agencies that have worked with our students are Intourist agency in Wheeling, 1-847-243-2121 (intourist@ameritech.net) and Sunset Travel on Fullerton, 773-929-8155 (vacations@sunset.webmail.com).
Is Prague an expensive city?
Though the dollar is not as strong as it used to be, Prague remains a relatively inexpensive city: meals can cost around 5 dollars each; public transportation costs are included. Daily expenses can be kept well within $20 per day. Because of its location, Prague is a convenient and inexpensive place from which to reach other countries. Trains and buses leave regularly for Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, and other international cities. You will have at least two long (three-day) weekends during which you can travel.
What will the total costs be?
Please note that the global currency market is always in flux. All costs (except tuition) are estimations. Session fees $2,950*. This includes airport transfers, daily breakfast, shared occupancy lodging—33 nights, field trips and city tours, final dinner, reading and celebration dinner, and various course fees. Tuition is $461 per credit hour for undergraduates (4-8 credit hours) $603 per credit hour for graduates (3-6 credit hours). Daily expenses can run $10 to $60, depending on your tastes and needs. If you intend to travel outside of Prague on your own, please budget for that as well.
When and how do I register and pay?
Because the program and class offerings are contingent on interest and enrollment, it is imperative that interested students follow these application guidelines:
Submit a completed Interest/Application form as soon as possible to the Fiction Writing Department, 624 S. Michigan Ave. Suite 1200. [Download]
Go to the Cashier's window (600 S. Michigan Ave., 3rd floor) to pay the $1,000 non-refundable deposit by April 3, 2009 (though earlier is better). Please be sure to tell the cashier that you are paying "Fiction Writing Department Session Fees for Prague." Checks or money orders only, please.
Promptly bring your receipt to the Fiction Writing Office (Suite 1200, 624 S. Michigan Ave.). We will make a copy for our records. Student keeps the original.
Register for desired classes on Oasis as soon as Summer 2009 Registration begins (March 16). Students require clearance to register for Prague sections. Please be sure you are registering for a Prague course (course numbers are listed in this booklet). Tuition and session fee balance are paid through CCCPay or at the Cashier's window, 3rd floor, 600 S. Michigan.
Submit three (3) Permission and Waiver Forms to the Fiction Writing Office:
- Acknowledgement of Risk Release of Responsibility [Download]
- Affidavit of Agreement and Acceptance Regarding Illegal Drug Use [Download]
- Student and Parental Permission Form (including proof of International Health/Med insurance) [Download]
Note: Failure to submit all three forms will result in the student not being able to go, and all deposits forfeited. These permission and waiver forms are available for download at colum.edu/Prague or in the Fiction Writing Office.
Submit a photocopy of your passport to the Fiction Writing Department.
E-mail your flight itinerary to eyokas@colum.edu. Please put ITINERARY in subject line.
Where can I get information about meetings and program updates?
Meeting announcements and program updates are posted here on colum.edu/Prague, throughout the Fiction Writing Department, in the computer lab (624 Michigan, 12th floor), and on the table in front of the elevators. Or call Mark Davidov or Elizabeth Yokas at 312-369-7611.
markgdavidov@yahoo.com; eyokas@colum.edu.
Should your personal or emergency contact information change at any time, please be sure to update e-mail Elizabeth Yokas by e-mail.
Student Checklist
- $1,000 Deposit (due by April 3, 2009)
- Registered for classes (Registration begins March 16, 2009)
- Flight itinerary sent to eyokas@colum.edu
On file with Fiction Writing Department:
- Completed Interest/Application Sheet
- Copy of Cashier Receipt for $1,000 deposit
- (3) Permission & Waiver Forms (Due prior to departure)
- Photocopy of Passport (Due prior to departure)
About the Program
The Fiction Writing Department of Columbia College Chicago is offering two summer sessions in Prague during the summer of 2009. Undergrads will take 4-8 hours of Fiction Writing Department credit; grads will take 3-6. Courses are open to all Columbia students, and can be arranged for students-at-large and students from other institutions.
Benefits of the Program
More and more, employers across many industries are realizing the value of graduates who have international study experience. Seeing and learning about other cultures firsthand is a tremendous asset in today's global business community. Students with international study experience broaden their horizons, literally and literarily, and gain the accompanying personal and marketable advantages in their writing and worldview. It is what will make these five-weeks last—and pay off—forever.
Session I: May 23 – June 25
Session II: June 27 – July 30
Information Meeting
Monday, April 6
5:00 pm - 5:45 pm Room 1204
624 S. Michigan Building
Proposed Courses Offered (contingent on enrollment):
Fiction Writing: Advanced
Creative Nonfiction (Session II only)
Critical Reading and Writing: Contemporary European Authors (Session I only)
Critical Reading and Writing II: Kafka (Session II only)
Dreams and Fiction Writing
Session Fees*
Approximate fees for one session will be $2,950. (Subject to change). Please contact the Fiction Writing Department for Deposit Deadline information: 312-369-7611.
Session Fees include:
Airport Transfers
Shared Occupancy Lodging—33 nights
Laundry Service
Housekeeping Service
Daily Breakfast
Print Cards
Monthly Transit Pass
Field Trips and Tours
Welcome Dinner
Final Dinner, Reading, and Celebration
Internet Access
Various course fees
*Fees do not include tuition, airfare, or daily meals. The total fee may change slightly due to fluctuations in the foreign currency markets.
* Deposits will be refunded in the unlikely event of program cancellation.
Course Descriptions
Critical Reading and Writing: Contemporary European Writers (55-4208PR)
This course researches the writing processes of contemporary European writers, including the ways in which writers' reading and responses to reading play influential roles in the overall fiction writing process. Journals and other writings will be used as examples of how writers develop dimensions of their own fiction and see their work in relation to other writers. The course involves study of the development of diverse techniques and voices of some of the most important European writers whose lives, works, and inspiration are inseparable from Prague, including Kafka, Hacek, Capek, Meyrink, and Kundera.
Critical Reading and Writing II: Kafka (55-4214)
Students read and research the complete works of Franz Kafka. Students will visit various sites in Prague where Kafka lived, worked, wrote, and died. The course will focus on Kafka’s writing processes, including ways in which Kafka’s reading and responses to reading influenced his work. Students use journals and other writings to explore Kafka’s work and to examine their own.
Dreams and Fiction Writing (55-4203)
This course helps writers relate the rich, various, and powerful world of dreams to the needs and delights of imaginative prose fiction. Students keep journals of their dreams, read and write dream stories, and study how dreams relate to their fiction writing. Students also research how dreams have influenced work of well-known writers. This is a Fiction Writing Department Specialty Writing course.
Fiction Writing: Advanced (55-4106)
Workshop uses Story Workshop® approach to develop facets of writing short fiction and novels. Students intensively explore new fictional possibilities as well as have the option of continuing to develop strong writing material from previous classes. Workshop may have an emphasis on point of view and/or rewriting.
Creative Nonfiction (55-4319)
Course concentrates on application of fictional and story-writing techniques to non-fiction writing in the non-fiction novel, story, and memoir, as well as in travel, scientific, and anthropological writing. Books such as Norman Mailer's Armies of the Night, Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, and Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi are studied. There may be a particular regional emphasis on Central Europe.
FAQ's
I'm not sure I can go, but what can I do now in case I am able to go?
Whether you're definitely going or unsure right now, the first thing to do NOW is to get a passport if you need one (check your expiration dates!). The Department of Homeland Security is now requiring passports for Canada and the Virgin Islands, so waits for passports have nearly tripled. You'll want to avoid the "Rush" fee upwards of $600. Get a passport now!
Is financial aid available for this program?
Yes. However, because no aid is specifically awarded for Summer semester, students are advised to apply heavy for Spring, and use the extra funds for Summer. Please contact Student Financial Services for assistance.
Do I need to pay for everything upfront?
No. The only upfront expense required is the $1,000 deposit toward session fees. The deadline for this deposit is April 3, 2009, though paying it earlier is recommended. Summer tuition and the balance of your session fees are paid through CCCPay or at the Cashier's window (3rd floor, 600 S Michigan). Students may contact SFS to arrange installment payments.
Do I need health/medical insurance that's valid overseas?
Yes. Students are required to have valid medical/health insurance that's valid overseas in order to participate in Study Abroad Programs. If you don't have insurance, there are many affordable temporary plans available for students (Google "temporary insurance for students abroad"). Compare all the companies, but you can start with Student Care, a division of Koster Insurance (provider of health and sickness coverage for Columbia College Chicago students). Go to: https://www.studentcare.com/study_abroad_home.php If you have med/health insurance, make sure your policy provides coverage overseas.
How many classes can we miss in a session?
None. It is an intensive study program, and students are expected to attend all sessions.
Does Columbia arrange my travel?
No. Students are responsible for arranging all travel. Be sure to arrange travel so it doesn't overlap during class times, particularly first and last days of class.
May I come early? Leave late?
Yes, as long as you arrange your accommodations. For the 1st Session, you must check in on May 23 before 4 p.m., and check out by 11 a.m. on June 25. For the 2nd session, you must check in by 4 p.m. on June 27, and check out by 11 a.m. on July 30.
If I've taken Fiction Seminar before on campus, can I take it again in Prague?
No. It is a non-repeatable course. This course is only available to those who've taken two Advanced Fiction courses on campus, or Advanced Fiction in the first session of Prague.
Is there a computer on site?
Yes. All students will have access to the hotel computer. However, all guests have access to this computer so it is strongly recommended that you bring (or borrow) a laptop for checking e-mails and producing work. You should also bring a flash drive for saving and printing your work at local copy centers using your provided print card.
Will the hotel accommodations be quiet enough to work in at any time of day?
Yes. The hotel will be a quiet zone so people can study and write. No loud talking, music, etc. will be permitted. The hotel accommodates other guests besides our group, so while we are not responsible for the behavior of others, it is imperative that we respect everyone's right to a quiet and peaceful stay.
What more can you tell me about the accommodations?
Residence 4 B&B is a totally renovated, historic five-story building (with elevators!). It is located in Prague 7 (Umelecka 4), a quiet, safe, yet vibrant residential zone surrounded by the Prague National Art Museum, gorgeous parks, including Letna Park and Stromovka Park, one of the city's largest. Suitable for relaxing, but still close to the center of Prague, this area is within ten minutes from the historical center of Prague, and is a nice walk to the Castle through Letna Park. Classes will be held on-site. Included in your session fees is a daily breakfast, served every morning from 7: 30 a.m. till 10: 30 a.m. Some apartments have balconies; all apartments have a sitting room, satellite TV, telephone, a "dorm" refrigerator, and a private full bathroom. Internet access, maid service and weekly laundry are included in your session fees. Residence 4 B&B is a five-minute walk to all major tram stops that run day and night, and is surrounded by numerous canteens, cafes, fast-food eateries, pizzerias and many other restaurants, small and big convenience stores, Internet cafes, grocery stores, and shops.
If cabs aren't recommended, how will I get to and from the airport?
Airport transfers are included in your session fees. Airport transfers to and from our host hotel are valid for the first day of lodging in this hotel, and on the day of checkout only. We will provide you with information regarding pick-up times. If you are already in Prague, you must get to the accommodations on your own.
What are the approximate flight costs?
As of October 2008, the average cost of round-trip airfare from Chicago is $1300.
Do you recommend any Web sites and travel guides for Prague?
Praguepost.com and expats.com are good sites to visit. Lonely Planet and Eyewitness Travel have very good books. Also, Google "Prague travel" and see all the goodies you'll get.
What's the best way to book travel?
First, order your passport, then book your flight as far in advance as possible for the best rates. You can go on-line to arrange your flights (expedia.com, kayak.com, among others). We suggest that you wait until you are in Europe to arrange any rail or other regional travel. First, it's cheaper; second, you'll have a better idea of what your free weekends will be then. Travel agencies that have worked with our students are Intourist agency in Wheeling, 1-847-243-2121 (intourist@ameritech.net) and Sunset Travel on Fullerton, 773-929-8155 (vacations@sunset.webmail.com).
Is Prague an expensive city?
Though the dollar is not as strong as it used to be, Prague remains a relatively inexpensive city: meals can cost around 5 dollars each; public transportation costs are included. Daily expenses can be kept well within $20 per day. Because of its location, Prague is a convenient and inexpensive place from which to reach other countries. Trains and buses leave regularly for Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, and other international cities. You will have at least two long (three-day) weekends during which you can travel.
What will the total costs be?
Please note that the global currency market is always in flux. All costs (except tuition) are estimations. Session fees $2,950*. This includes airport transfers, daily breakfast, shared occupancy lodging—33 nights, field trips and city tours, final dinner, reading and celebration dinner, and various course fees. Tuition is $461 per credit hour for undergraduates (4-8 credit hours) $603 per credit hour for graduates (3-6 credit hours). Daily expenses can run $10 to $60, depending on your tastes and needs. If you intend to travel outside of Prague on your own, please budget for that as well.
When and how do I register and pay?
Because the program and class offerings are contingent on interest and enrollment, it is imperative that interested students follow these application guidelines:
Submit a completed Interest/Application form as soon as possible to the Fiction Writing Department, 624 S. Michigan Ave. Suite 1200. [Download]
Go to the Cashier's window (600 S. Michigan Ave., 3rd floor) to pay the $1,000 non-refundable deposit by April 3, 2009 (though earlier is better). Please be sure to tell the cashier that you are paying "Fiction Writing Department Session Fees for Prague." Checks or money orders only, please.
Promptly bring your receipt to the Fiction Writing Office (Suite 1200, 624 S. Michigan Ave.). We will make a copy for our records. Student keeps the original.
Register for desired classes on Oasis as soon as Summer 2009 Registration begins (March 16). Students require clearance to register for Prague sections. Please be sure you are registering for a Prague course (course numbers are listed in this booklet). Tuition and session fee balance are paid through CCCPay or at the Cashier's window, 3rd floor, 600 S. Michigan.
Submit three (3) Permission and Waiver Forms to the Fiction Writing Office:
- Acknowledgement of Risk Release of Responsibility [Download]
- Affidavit of Agreement and Acceptance Regarding Illegal Drug Use [Download]
- Student and Parental Permission Form (including proof of International Health/Med insurance) [Download]
Note: Failure to submit all three forms will result in the student not being able to go, and all deposits forfeited. These permission and waiver forms are available for download at colum.edu/Prague or in the Fiction Writing Office.
Submit a photocopy of your passport to the Fiction Writing Department.
E-mail your flight itinerary to eyokas@colum.edu. Please put ITINERARY in subject line.
Where can I get information about meetings and program updates?
Meeting announcements and program updates are posted here on colum.edu/Prague, throughout the Fiction Writing Department, in the computer lab (624 Michigan, 12th floor), and on the table in front of the elevators. Or call Mark Davidov or Elizabeth Yokas at 312-369-7611.
markgdavidov@yahoo.com; eyokas@colum.edu.
Should your personal or emergency contact information change at any time, please be sure to update e-mail Elizabeth Yokas by e-mail.
Student Checklist
- $1,000 Deposit (due by April 3, 2009)
- Registered for classes (Registration begins March 16, 2009)
- Flight itinerary sent to eyokas@colum.edu
On file with Fiction Writing Department:
- Completed Interest/Application Sheet
- Copy of Cashier Receipt for $1,000 deposit
- (3) Permission & Waiver Forms (Due prior to departure)
- Photocopy of Passport (Due prior to departure)