Program Reviews

I had an amazing time! The program overall was very fun overall and I learned a lot about film. There were some minor setbacks and times of frustration, but nothing major. I would recommend this program! One problem we faced was not having access to editing software or equipment, this made creating the videos we set out to make very difficult.

Overall, this program has been a great experience. The people, the curiculum, the places, and the process was pretty simple and fun. Future participants should have a better understanding about the first few days they arrive to better prepare during travel. The staff did a great job with keeping up with us before we left the united states and after. I loved almost every second of this trip and the parts I didnt love were a result of my close minded and laziness.

Ciee has a great class going on in Seville that I was lucky to be apart of. I never felt like I was unsafe or left out and I really liked that. My host family was a great family and the staff here did a great job of helping our expirience, they rarely messed up. Overall I am happy that I went on this trip. We had great weekend trips to different cities and I felt like my expierience benefitted greatly from that. Also my class was fun and interesting and helped me to learn more about filmaking.

I really enjoyed meeting new people and making friends. The staff is really supportive and nice. I would for sure recommend this program to those who are trying to experience something new and fun. one thing I would change is the organization of the activities because throughout the days some of the times changed and it was no fun having to rush to a meeting point really far from our house. This experience really helped me see the cultures in a different view and particiapting in it first had. this was an overall life changing experience that I will never forget.

Although my time in Germany is not quite finished, I have already experienced so much. From meeting my host family after orientation in Frankfurt, going to my Gymnasium in Germany on the first day, learning how to navigate public transportation, going on vacation with my host family (Borkum in October and London in May), sharing American Thanksgiving with them, meeting up with other exchange students in Wiesbaden and Cologne, spending the holidays surrounded by German traditions (like Plätzchen backen and Weihnachtsmärkte), ringing in the new year in another country, saying goodbye to semester students, going to a castle light festival with a friend, going on a mini European road trip through the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria with my family when they visited me in April, and getting to explore Prague for the first time with forty other exchange students, my year has been packed with tons of new experiences. Due in large part to my host family, I have always felt comfortable and safe in Germany. Being immersed in the German language and culture for this last year has benefitted me in many ways. I know that when I get back to the U.S. I will miss Germany like crazy. Participating in this program through CIEE has taught me so many important things and I know that these memories will stay with me my entire life. It's a good thing that pictures and memories don't take up much space in suitcases, otherwise I'd have to spend even more money than I already have buying souvenirs and gifts this year to send them back to the States!

I am currently studying abroad with the CIEE highschool spring semester program in Valparaiso, Chile. I have been living with a wonderful host mom, sister and brother who have welcomed me into their home and lives.
The CIEE in country staff have really made this experience better than I could've imagined. Maria Paz is my go to person for any problem, doubt or question and is always happy to hear our endless stories and how things are going. The CIEE office is always open and all of the staff here have helped us with so many things. From extra Spanish classes, to debit cards not working, to help studying for tests, to finding sports teams outside of school to participate in, to individual check-ins they really care about the students here and work hard to make our experience unforgettable.
I've already learned a lot in the three months I've been here. My Spanish has improved and I feel a lot more confident speaking now. I've been forced into new situations and in turn have learned how to handle new things and the importance of communication. Through meeting people from a different culture, I've also learned a lot about myself and my own culture.
I can confidently say that this has been the best experience in my life, and I highly recommend this program to anyone thinking about studying abroad!

When complimenting me for doing a good job on a project, my grandmother would say you handled it perfectly from soup to nuts. Prior to the 1980s, most formal sit-down dinners were multiple courses beginning with soup and ending with nuts. My grandmother was an excellent host so this compliment held a great deal of weight. CIEE was there for me before, during, and in the close of my daughters Chile experience. My daughter is in the final two months of a year-long program. She is fluent in Spanish. She has made life long friends. Her life is changed through the experience.

After arriving in Chile, my daughter, Julia, received an immersion three week Spanish course. She lived with a family and toured Santiago with fellow CIEE students and her Santiago "host" family. This preliminary program helped Julia to gain the confidence to begin school and live with people who didn't speak English.

When I was 16, I wanted to do something new and exciting, and a semester abroad sounded like the way to do it. I found CIEE online and compared it's prices, services, and opportunities to other programs I found, and CIEE definitely had me captivated from the beginning. I chose to go abroad to Spain, and in preparation to leave I had many questions, and I was quite exceedingly nervous. The staff at CIEE was consistently quick to respond to my emails and were always willing to Skype call with me to ease any fear and answer any question I had. At orientation in Boston, we learned through hands on activities what kinds of challenges we might face while abroad, and learned what made the difference between a successful and unsuccessful experience. Upon our arrival in Spain, we were seamlessly transitioned from CIEE to the Spanish exchange partner, InterHispania. When meeting my host family for the first time and experiencing the rollercoaster of emotions that are associated with homesickness and culture shock, I always had resources to help me cope, and I was not blindsided by how hard the transition would be because of the efficiency and thoroughness of the orientation. My time abroad was the best experience I could have had at my age, and has lead me to come back to Spain three years later. As I write this, I live here in Madrid permanently, and am still very much in touch with the host family I was so lucky to have been paired with three years ago. In fact, I consider them my family, second to my own, and still visit them every other weekend. CIEE provided me with a once in a life time opportunity that shaped my goals for the future. I know I would not be where I am today if it had not been for this program.

Making the decision to do a year abroad in France has turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. Through this experience, I am not just learning about a culture and its language, I am learning about myself and my abilities to accept and adapt. It has been nothing short of amazing to live these last 5 months in France and I would recommend this program to anyone looking to spend a year abroad.

I would be very, very likely to recommend CIEE to another person because I found that the program was extremely organized and provided me with all the information that I may need. My most memorable experience was the second seminar I attended with all of the other exchange students. These seminars happen every once in a while and are so much fun! I find it really cool to have so many international friends because of the seminars! I miss Germany so much and would love to go back! Overall great experience!