IES Abroad Rome

I attended IES Rome’s Fall program and had a fantastic time. I had the opportunity to enrich myself with an engaging and relevant academic curriculum and also participate in numerous cultural experiences. These experiences include those orchestrated by the IES program as well as things I did independently with both the American and Italian friends I met through the program. Housing was provided in the cost, as well as spacious, regularly cleaned, and well located. The classes were admittedly less rigorous than those I was accustomed to at my US university, but were nevertheless enjoyable, interesting, and took advantage of the program’s location to incorporate excursions to relevant sites around Rome and Italy. For example, I studied Classical Roman architecture in the ruins of the Roman Forum and Renaissance art at Florence’s Uffizi, both with program classes. They were certainly a highlight of the academics. The professors and other staff were almost entirely Italians with very good English skills. Language was never a problem in class. Furthermore, they were universally approachable and friendly. Professors would recommend the best restaurants and bars to us. The language instruction was also of high quality. I went in knowing next to no Italian, but I left with a decent level of proficiency. The program housed many of its students, including those of us in my apartment, with local Italian students. This was probably the best part of the program. In making friends with my Italian roommate, I was exposed to a host of cultural events, attitudes, and quirks that would be otherwise inaccessible. Additionally, it really helped my Italian skills. Today, when I keep in touch with my old roommate, we can speak in Italian. This was radically different than being a tourist or a simple visitor. With this program, I was able to live in Italy like a true Italian!

Studying abroad in Rome, Italy was hands-down one of the best decisions that I have made. Rome is a city rich in history and there will never be a shortage of things to do. I had amazing roommates and my apartment was located in the perfect location. While walking to and from class everyday, I walked by the 2,000 year old Pantheon where I could stop and sip on a cappuccino or enjoy a scoop of gelato. The classes were engaging and allowed us to use the whole city as a classroom instead of learning about it through a projection on a screen. There is never a shortage of things to do, you can try a new spot for aperitivo with friends, take one of the cooking classes offered through the program, or catch an AS Roma game in the Olympic Stadium. Rome is the perfect location for anyone who loves history, food, coffee, art, and wants to learn Italian. I enjoyed not having classes on Friday, this gave me the opportunity to travel more throughout Italy as well as other countries.

Studying in Rome was a great decision. It gave me the chance to break away from my college routine and experience learning, working, and living in an entirely new and enjoyable way. I took IES courses to further my studies in political science by studying both classic political philosophers like Macchiavelli and the current events of modern Italian politics. IES also connected me with a great internship working working for an english-language journal as an editorial assistant in charge of communications and social media. The internship gave me excellent work experience and professional insight into the current dynamics of European politics. And even while studying and working, I still had ample time to explore the city of Rome during the week and to travel to different parts of Europe during the weekend. I was able to immerse myself in Italian culture and become more deeply connected to my Italian heritage and identity. IES helped to facilitate this by giving me the opportunity to have a local Italian student as my roommate during the semester. I am very grateful for all that I learned and experienced during my time abroad.

I can't thank IES Rome enough. The administration was honestly so helpful with everything and everything. Knew everyone on my program (100+ students) by name the first day. They were so understanding with any question and were available 24/7. The professors were experts on their subjects and I learned more on this semester abroad than I do at my home institution - which is saying a lot! The apartment I was assigned to was in an amazing neighborhood right next to Vatican City and wasn't touristy at all. I lived with 5 other IES students in a building that was all Italian families, it truly felt like being a local. Overall, IES Rome made the transition to living and studying abroad so seamless, allowing me to have the most fun I've had in my life. I had the option to travel every weekend but I stayed in Rome more weekends that I traveled because there was so many news places and neighborhoods to visit in the city (and with my new Italian friends) that I felt guilty for leaving. IES made me feel so confident exploring the city on my own by being available 24/7.

IES made my study abroad experience in Rome amazing. I loved the location of the center and the opportunities they provided us with. I got to visit so many historic sites during classes and I even learned how to make pasta at a cooking class. The classes were interesting and really focused on the culture and history. I absolutely loved the field trip weekend to Tuscany. The housing was definitely a cultural difference, but the Italian Student Companions were a great option. They made adjusting to living in a city in Italy much easier.

I loved my time in Rome with all of the experienced professors and great friends I made-- it's a program for everyone at all levels! I especially loved my living situation being with a Literature professor and her dog and being able to have my dietary restrictions (veganism) accommodated to at home, feeling welcome in the fullest. I was even taught how to cook!

I am also grateful for being able to go to the opera to see La Traviata, have dinners out with the group and go on several excursions with my class every week and as part of the program like to Amalfi Coast and Assisi.

I was given a chance to be independent and really explore on my own with the friends that i made, making it my experience especially being able to practice my Italian and learn at a rapid pace.

I knew from the moment I went to college I wanted to study abroad in Rome, Italy for the academic year. IES Abroad Rome allowed me to fulfill that dream and experience the best that Rome had to offer. Every professor in this program is extremely passionate about what they teach and the weekly field studies for classes really allowed me to learn about art and culture within its context; a unique experience I will always treasure. In addition, IES is very accommodating to the needs of the students. For example, I wanted to participate in an internship in a gallery, but I also wanted take a painting class at RUFA (a local art university in Rome), and IES was very helpful in making that happen. While the academics were not very vigorous, this allowed for time and energy to immerse myself in the culture and really take advantage of what Rome had to offer.

I participated in the IES Abroad Rome - Language & Area Studies program during the Spring of 2017. I lived in an apartment, took classes in economics, art history, political science and Italian and immensely enjoyed traveling through Europe and exploring the city of Rome! I took Intensive Italian, which really enhanced by language skills and enabled me to be conversational in Italian by the end of the term. The IES Program instructors are engaging and passionate. I also traveled extensively during my time abroad—I went to 22 European cities and 14 countries! IES allows for a Monday - Thursday class schedule, with Fridays off - this structure is fantastic since it provides an extra day for travel or exploration of Rome. I cannot emphasize enough how amazing of an experience this spring was for me. My classes and professors were incredible, living as a Roman was truly like living a fairytale, and being immersed in the Italian culture day in and day out was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. I would do it again and again if I could!