Study Abroad Training Scheme
Johanna Lehman from Germany says it was one of her biggest wishes to do a semester abroad. “SIT seemed cool because it’s on the other side of the world,” she says. Coming from Hochschule Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, located in the Saxony region, at home Johanna is studying Media Management. “I have fun producing films with my friends and at Mittweida we did a lot of Live Production.”
Invercargill pulled out all the stops for Johanna’s arrival in mid-February, giving her great first impressions. “On the day I arrived [it] was sunny, so I was really happy about that.” Johanna had heard about Southern weather - that it was rainy all the time - but now she’s settled in here, her opinion has changed. “I now know that the weather changes all day.”
While Johanna didn’t experience any culture shock after she arrived, she admits to missing her Mum’s cooking, “like pumpkin soup or wild garlic pesto”. The biggest difference she noticed between her hometown Mittweida and Invercargill is the lack of bicycles “… there are no people going for walks or going to work by bike. Everyone is going by car… that's a lot different from Germany.”
Johanna’s enjoying the hands-on nature of her course content, and thinks the programme is really good as an introduction to filmmaking and the industry. “I like that we are going deep on film stuff. We watch films and analyse them,” explaining that the class spends time thinking about what’s probably going on behind the camera. “On top of that, we get to write our own script and will be shooting our own project.”
“I was surprised about the Creative Centre. It has really nice architecture and one lecture room is built in an old church. I show the church to all my friends because it amazes me.”
Johanna says the big positive of spending a semester at SIT is “to practice my English, obviously. And I get to experience a new field of the media industry - my animation class. It’s something I’ve never done before.” She also hoped for plenty of practical work, “not only listening to lectures. Thankfully we do,” she adds.
Her personal highlight has been getting to know other students who are interested in filmmaking and exchanging experiences.
While everything has gone very smoothly so far, Johanna’s only disappointment is not being able to work while here. “I wanted to work part-time at a little cafe for fun, but my visa doesn’t allow me to,” she explains.
With a view to work in either the music or film industry, Johanna is aiming to get a management position, preferably internationally. “So, I think studying at SIT will help me to get into companies that have international departments.”
She advises that a semester abroad can help students to grow. “[You can] use this time to learn more about yourself and step out of your comfort zone.”
Johanna also encourages SIT students to try the summer semester in Germany. “Go study at Mittweida in 4th Semester, if you have the chance to. Do media management specialising in production. You’ll get to experience the Campus Festival Mittweida and work in the TV Studio which is so fun.”