What question did this study set out to answer?

To share reflections and personal experiences of international students during their first semester at university in Jena.

May 1, 2026Open Access

Episode 14: The first semester - Anna and Emirhan are looking back on their first semester

Key Points

To share reflections and personal experiences of international students during their first semester at university in Jena.
Podcast discussion between university ambassadors Anna and Emirhan.
Insights shared on personal challenges and positive experiences during the semester.
Advice given for navigating university life and overcoming exam stress.
Anna and Emirhan reflect on building friendships and their adaptation to life in Jena.
They share both positive experiences and challenges faced during their first semester.
The ambassadors provide tips for succeeding in the first semester and handling exam anxiety.

Abstract

The university ambassadors Anna and Emirhan are looking back on their first semester in Jena. Did Jena became their home by now? Which good experiences and challanges do they remember? Anna Boldyreva and Emirhan Ayaz are the Uni Ambassadors de of the winter term 2023. On their blogs they give insights in the life of international students at the university of Jena. 00: 45 How long are you in Jena now? 00: 57 What was the best experience in your time in Jena? 02: 20 How did you find new friends? 03: 45 Were there not so good experiences too? And how could you accomplish these challanges? 05: 40 Would you say that Jena became your home? 06: 35 What became your favorite place in Jena? 07: 40 …your favorite Mensa/cafeteria? 09: 07 What are you adives to master the first semester and the exam sesion? Shownotes: - Podcast episode with Anna and Emirhan at the beginning of the semester: https: //www. uni-jena. de/en/podcast-uni-jena-international#JUBoSStart - Emirhan‘s blog entry about the holiday season in germany: https: //www. uni-jena. de/international/studium-in-jena/gute-gruende-fuer-jena/jubos/jubos-emirhan/die-schoenste-zeit-des-jahres-in-deutschland (german) - Events for international students: https: //www. uni-jena. de/en/intstudevents - Intercultural Campus live: https: //www. uni-jena. de/en/interculturalcampuslife - Dining halls ("Mensa") in Jena: https: //www. stw-thueringen. de/en/dining-halls/facilities. html - University libraries in Jena: https: //www. thulb. uni-jena. de/en/home o Anna’s and Emirhan’s favorite library „Thulb“: https: //www. thulb. uni-jena. de/en/thulb/standorte/arts-and-humanities o The Cafeteria in the Thulb: https: //www. stw-thueringen. de/en/dining-halls/jena/cafeteria-bibliothek. html - Support in the case of exam anxiety: o Psychosocial Counselling: https: //www. stw-thueringen. de/en/counselling/psycho-social-counselling/ o Group offer: https: //www. stw-thueringen. de/beratung/gruppenangebote. html (german) - The blogs of the University ambassadors: https: //www. uni-jena. de/jubos (german)

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