Program Reviews

I was fortunate enough to complete my dream of traveling to Europe, specifically Berlin, Germany. Coming here to study for a semester was the best decision I have made in my entire life. I went to this country alone, not knowing anyone, but came out with friendships that will last a lifetime. I was able to live in a homestay, which made this journey a lot more fun. I was fortunate enough to already know German before coming, and I was able to continue learning with a German class at IES. I got to travel to so many different places within Berlin and check out all the historical aspects, the wall, and many museums. There is so much to do in Berlin that there was never a day that I was bored. The city is so easy to navigate and public transportation can get you basically anywhere. I can't wait to come back someday and visit my old stomping grounds.

I absolutely loved my semester in Nantes! I chose this program because I wanted to be in a city where I knew I could really work on my language skills and because I was interested in the teaching internship, but I got so much more than just that! I made amazing friends with the other students on my program, and we shared so many cool experiences. I taught English in a French school and worked alongside other French teachers, gaining valuable experience for prospective future jobs. IES hosted different cultural events every week, ranging from cooking workshops hosted by some of the host families to ice skating and exploring the city, all the way to weekend excursions like trips to the Loire Valley castles. It was great to be in the city of Nantes. I felt pretty safe in the city and there was always plenty of things to do. It was also quite easy to travel from Nantes to other cool places nearby. My one regret was not involving myself in the international community more, especially at the university. Everyone stayed with a host family, and I felt very at home with mine; we were so well matched! We all started the program at different levels in our French, but the staff and professors at IES met each of us where we were at and encouraged us all along the way as we progressed. By the end of the semester we had all come so far with our French! I'm so proud of the things I accomplished and the experiences I had during my semester abroad, I only wish it could have lasted longer.

Studying in Siena was an unforgettable experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I had incredible professors, classes that engaged me, and made friendships that will last a lifetime. Our apartment was beautiful, with nice bedrooms and fabulous views of the mountains and the city. The field trips were the perfect addition to our classwork, and what's better than learning over a plate of fresh cheese and a glass of organic wine? The dean and director, Vittoria and Veronica, were incredibly helpful, and always made sure we were well taken care of. The activities in the city itself were incredible, with live music almost every night, parties hosted by the Contradas that we were welcomed to, and student group outings that we were invited to join. Overall, the experience was amazing, and I would highly recommend this program for anyone looking to experience the finest parts of Italian life.

Granda is the perfect city to study abroad in. IES Granada makes it easy to integrate into the community and really get to know the city and the people who live there. Granada is the perfect mix of historic city and bustling city. There is always something to do or see and the staff at IES Granada always ensure that students know about the multitude of events that are happening in the city. They also plan amazing excursions for students to different cities in Spain and a week long trip to Morocco. These trips were the most amazing part of study abroad. We had incredibly authentic experiences and we rarely felt as though we were tourists. I am so grateful for my time studying at IES Granada, majority of the classes were related to the city and it's history. We would take walking tours to see what we were learning about in class and to that effect I was able to feel as though I was truly part of the city because I didn't just live there, I knew how it had become the amazing place it is today.

The IES Abroad program in Milan provided me with a semester of memories and connections that will last a lifetime. The staff at the center really tries to get to know each student, which meant a lot in a place that was so unfamiliar at first. My courses were interesting and taught by first-class professionals. My favorite class was my Italian intensive class, which went above and beyond a typical language class to teach information that was extremely helpful in every day life in Milan. I participated in an internship through IES alongside my coursework, which was an invaluable professional experience at this point in my career. My housing assignment, provided by IES, was beautiful and in a convenient location that provided inspiration and encouraged exploration. Having a live-in Community Assistant was extremely helpful for navigating certain tasks and situations as well. IES also offered many great cultural excursions. They even provided us with weekly emails and monthly pamphlets about the best things going on in the city during that time. I cannot thank IES enough for the semester I spent in Milan!

Berlin has a contemporary and relaxing atmosphere, but it also has important layers of history. Many of my classes here touched upon history through different lens. For example, in Metropolitan development class, we discussed how different political ideologies in East and West Berlin influenced urban planning and architectural designs. In Recycled City class, we talked about economic challenges after reunification and how neoliberal housing policy led to gentrification. The program here delves into underlying mechanism of how urban space is practiced and its physical manifestations. During my time in Berlin, I also got to meet new people from different cultural backgrounds. I attended dance classes in a contemporary dance studio and met a Korean girl who was studying theater in Sweden. While dining out, I got to learn stories of immigrants from China, Vietnam, and Turkey. Each individual carries his/her own bits of history and every conversation we share becomes a moment of cultural exchange. I really enjoy such moments.

IES Granada was an awesome experience, and I would recommend it to anyone with a Spanish language background willing to explore this beautiful city and culture!

IES Abroad and IES Granada staff were super helpful, from the beginning by making sure we got our visas ready to our 2-day orientation program in Málaga. Throughout the semester, they made sure that we were settling in okay, meeting locals, and then preparing for our return home. I ended up having a foot injury that lasted throughout the semester, but the staff was super kind about checking in on me, and also arranging doctors visits with a translator and taxi up to the hospital.

We always knew what was happening in Granada because of the weekly Agenda email that we received. Our orientation leader joked that she forwards it to all her friends because it is the most comprehensive list of events in the city. IES also planned field trips within Southern Spain and to Morocco to help us learn more about the region's history and stunning sites. The Morocco trip, optional but most students choose to go, was carefully planned to be more than just a tourist visit, as we stayed with host families for 2 nights and met with 2 NGOs and a lot of local students.

The best part about my experience was getting to know locals. I found two groups of local students, one through an "intercambio" program that IES set up to give us each a language partner, and the other through the university church group. Both groups welcomed me in, and I was able to improve my Spanish a lot and and learn more about Spain through these friendships. I´m already trying to figure out when to return because of these strong connections that I made!

On the academic side, IES has a lot of great classes to offer its students at its own program site, with professors from the University of Granada. I was able to take all of my classes in Spanish, but in a smaller classroom than at the university. We were able to explore much of the city and its history through classes like Islamic Art and Architecture, or take classes I wouldn't usually get to take, like watercolor.

My living situation was great! I had a lovely set of host parents who really welcomed us into the family. My roommate and I were even able to travel with our host mom to her hometown and meet her father and brother. Her cooking was excellent, and although not everyone had such a positive experience, I think overall most students in both homestays and residential living were happy with their choices.

Overall, the IES Granada semester was well-run and made sure we felt at home. They even cooked us a Thanksgiving dinner :)

(note: I am an Ambassador for IES Abroad, but only because I felt so much support from IES with my injury and semester, that I wanted to share my experience with others!)

Overall, my experience was better than I could have imagined. The classes were fun, engaging and I learned tons of material I would not have back at my home university. The IES teachers were well versed in their subjects and had interesting life experience. It really helped me get a better picture of career options and ways to get there. The program staff was extremely helpful and down to Earth. They were always willing to help but did not try to micromanage everything. They also do a great job of sending out weekly emails to tell you whats going on in the city and ways to get involved. In addition, they send links to tons of volunteer activities that are a way to meet locals and really helped me feel like I was doing something to give back during my free time. It was really nice and helped push the students to be independent! I stayed in a more residential area with tons of families and animals really close to campus which was so convenient. I enjoyed the area but my only wish was to be closer to the action. Like I said, overall, the experience was wonderful and I glad I picked IES.

Study abroad can simply be expressed as an experience to embark on. With the opportunity to study abroad, you test yourself within the academic, interpersonal and professional setting. Being in an environment outside of my comfort-zone exposed me to the individual power that I have as a person to enhance my once in a lifetime experience by focusing on what is best and ideal for me.

Please know when studying abroad: Allow yourself to vulnerable to whichever circumstance, especially abroad, while also being on your P’s and Q’s of the country. Regardless of the mistakes made, it will make for a realistic experience, as study abroad, nor life is perfect. Be okay with being by yourself, and travelling by yourself, as it strengthens your language and people skills.

This program is great for anyone who wants to improve their Japanese language skills and learn more about Japan. There are lots of chances for students to go out into Japan, as well as communicate with Japanese students. The program places students at Kanda University of International Studies, which is a language school. Many of the students at the school speak very good English, so even students who have no prior Japanese knowledge will be able to make great friends. The staff at IES Tokyo are really fun to spend time with and always there for whatever you need. I had a great time staying with my host family, and really enjoyed all of the friends I made while I was in Japan. It is important to keep in mind that this program is actually located in Chiba, which is about a 45 minute train ride from central Tokyo. I really loved this location because it shows you a different side of Japan, away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo proper.