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Location
  • Germany
Length
4 - 52 weeks
Program Categories
Cultural Immersion Study Abroad

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Timeframe
Academic Year Fall Spring
Housing
Host Family
Language
German

Pricing

Starting Price
8995
Price Details
Visit website for more details.
What's Included
Accommodation Domestic Airfare Airport Transfers Meals Travel Insurance
What's Included (Extra)

- Enrollment in a local high school
- All pre-departure and post arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU Germany Area Representative while on program

What's Not Included
Airfare Visa
Dec 20, 2019
May 28, 2018
Wish List
18 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Study abroad in Germany with YFU. Regardless of your level of German, you will have opportunities to improve and practice with native speakers. Students will take classes at a local school and live with a German family. Your host family will help you adjust to living in Germany and introduce you to your new environment while supporting you during your exchange. While in Germany, you have the option to visit some of the country's most iconic cities and sites, all the while attending a local high school and making new friends.

YFU also offers six-week summer stays in Germany for students looking for a shorter option. Experience what daily life is like in Germany while learning about German culture, trying exciting new foods, and experiencing traditions that are different from your own. All the while, no matter what your level of German, your language proficiency and comfort expressing yourself will improve!

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Video and Photos

YFU High School Study Abroad Program in Germany
YFU High School Study Abroad Program in Germany
YFU High School Study Abroad Program in Germany
YFU High School Study Abroad Program in Germany

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Program Reviews

4.89 Rating
based on 9 reviews
Leave a Review
  • 5 rating 88.89%
  • 4 rating 11.11%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 4.8
  • Support 4.7
  • Fun 4.9
  • Housing 4.9
  • Safety 4.9
Showing 9 - 9 of 9 reviews
Default avatar
Rachel
26
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best year of my life

Nov 5, 2014

This was honestly the best year of my life. I was lucky and received a scholarship fir the whole year or elsr I wouldnt have been able to ggo.
YFU was amazing and the mid year trip was one of the funnest weeks I had there. The people running the show are freindly and the other students in the program really made my time there memorable.
The people I met in Germany will certainly be in my life forever. My host family, my friends?, my boyfriend :)
I plan on moving back there to participate in an international degree program and I honestly couldnt be happier with my time in Germany.

40 people found this review helpful.
Helpful

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Miranda Dotson

Program
YFU High School Study Abroad Program in Germany
Miranda is currently a second semester senior, eager to graduate before she takes a gap year and heads off to American University for a degree in International Studies. Her favorite food is gyoza (she currently holds a record of eating 24 in one sitting).

Why did you pick this program?

Miranda Dotson in Germany

What's your favorite story to tell about your time abroad?

Well that's an easy question! I've got quite a few weird ones.

One of the times that I felt most at home abroad was when it was storming like crazy one night, and my host mother and sister and I were cowering in our living room, wrapped up in blankets telling scary murder stories. My host mother comes from East Germany during the time of occupation, and she had some pretty gruesome ones from her neighborhood (that were true!) up her sleeve. I remember reflecting upon that night and realizing how happy I was, and how well accustomed I had become to the language.

How do you deal with being in a foreign country?

My response to that is always: get used to being uncomfortable, that's honestly one of the best parts about going abroad. You're going to be uncomfortable and studying abroad makes you figure out how to be comfortable in a totally foreign environment. So embrace the discomfort and occasional moments of embarrassment -- you're going to look back on them after your exchange is long over and realize that they were great moments of growth.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Sonja Bienert

Program
YFU High School Study Abroad Program in Germany
Job Title
Director, Support Services
Sonja is a German alumna of the YFU CBYX program. Having spent her exchange year in Nebraska, her subsequent travels have taken her around the world to bring her back to the USA where she currently lives and works.
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What is your favorite travel memory?

One of my hardest but best moments of travel was when I visited our partner office in Bangkok, Thailand. Staff, volunteers and a host family did an amazing and loving job of integrating me into their lives in a very short time. When I said goodbye to spend my last weekend on a popular vacation island I felt empty and depressed, despite the fact that gorgeous beaches were waiting for me. This moment showed me once more how meaningful and moving a personal connection is during travel - so much more valuable than just setting foot in a place, no matter how beautiful.

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

Estonia is one of the most underrated travel destinations. That country is a little gem on the Baltic Sea. Many people think of it either as a nondescript part of the Baltic Countries or a broken off piece from Russia while modern Estonia has so much going for it. It's a fascinating blend of modern technology, being the country where Skype originated, and tradition. You can find untouched nature both forests and beaches, then turn around to return to the city where free wifi and modern amenities wait.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Our company is a not-for-profit company, so success is clearly not measured monetarily, the only exception being the number of scholarships we can offer. YFU sets up the framework for individuals to go abroad and make their own memorable intercultural learning experience. Success to me means enabling each individual to enjoy their time abroad and to not shy away from tough situations that may bring the biggest aha-moments and the deepest connections. Combing more than 60 years of experience in our student, host family, and volunteer orientations helps us set up our participants to be successful and that ultimately is the only success that counts.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

Youth For Understanding is an amazing non-profit that organizes exchange experiences. For over 60 years, individuals in the United States and around the world have contributed to the goals and mission that originated with one volunteer. Not only do we have decades of experience to look back on, we have a dedicated team of volunteers and staff. Around the world we practice what we preach, working inter-culturally sensitive with each other, growing and developing our staff through training and meeting that bring us back to our core work on a regular basis. This love of the mission shines through and is something that the participants can feel and experience.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I recently heard an amazing story from a host family in Hungary. Hungary, being located in central Europe, is a major stopping point for refugees coming to Europe to seek shelter. Unfortunately, the political tendency has been more nationalistic than open in recent years. We have a host family where the father is an active politician in the conservative party. This year, when they picked their student, they chose an American girl who is the daughter of a lesbian couple with very progressive views. Our partner in Hungary started a conversation with the family to share why they don't think it is a good idea for this family to host this student. As it turns out, the family deliberately picked the student. They aim to get to know, love and make part of their family a person that is different from them and that will help them gain a broader understanding and perspective of the world.

Location

Location:
Germany
Currency:
Euro
Weather:
Jan-Mar
52 F / 9 F
Apr-Jun
73 F / 14 F
Jul-Sep
79 F / 28 F
Oct-Dec
59 F / 10 F
Airports:
Frankfurt
( FRA )
Munich
( MUC )
Düsseldorf
( DUS )

Germany has attracted travelers for many years, with their abundance of festivals. Everywhere you go in Germany, you will see the confluence of nature and cityscapes; as well as, modern and traditional architecture. To get a true taste of Germany, you will need to experience all of these, from the bustling cities to the black forest, there is a lot to explore.

About Youth For Understanding (YFU)

YFU participants gain intercultural understanding, learn mutual respect, and develop a sense of social responsibility. Your experience abroad gives you leadership competencies necessary to meet today’s challenges and benefit from the opportunities of a fast-changing global community. YFU programming allows you to immerse yourself in another culture...

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