IES Abroad Reviews

The city of Sydney stole my heart the moment I stepped off the plane. I was blessed to be able to make so many life long friends from traveling with this program. I can't imagine not knowing these wonderful and diverse people before. The experiences that I have been able to take part in have been remarkable as well. My new found friends and I were able to road trip up the east coast of Australia from Brisbane to Cairns with multiple adventures on the way. We were also able to leave Australia to venture all the way to New Zealand. These past four months have been the most exciting and challenging yet most rewarding months of my life.

My favourite part of Sydney however has to be how you can explore for countless hours. I am very much the type of person who enjoys wandering around and exploring a new place until I know it like the back of my hand, but after four months here I am still discovering new restaurants and things to do. There are endless opportunities for anyone who chooses to call Sydney home for their program and I hope that if the opportunity presents itself for someone to travel here they take it in a heartbeat.

I knew that I wanted to study abroad one last time before my career (nursing) consumed me. I felt that I needed to escape from my life and enjoy one last moment of freedom. I did not know where I was going to go, but I knew that I wanted it to involve healthcare. While searching through the internet I saw that IES had a health program in Santiago, Chile.
To say the least, I applied and ran away, and I do not regret my decision to this day. I found Chile as a whole to be wonderful. My host family made my experience one of the best. They integrated me into their family and loved me as their own child. The children (5 and 13) were fun, loving, and helped me improve my Spanish. The mother and father still keep in touch with me to this day.

IES Abroad changed my life. If you've read and other reviews of this program, you know that there is no better program for French immersion. Between the IES Nantes staff, the professors, the home stay families, and the friendly people of the city, if you're looking for the opportunity to improve your French in 4 or 8 months, this is definitely the place to do it. But this program is about so much more than immersion. It's about spending Sunday's eating a leisurely lunch in the garden, it's about weekend trips to the coast with your host family, it's about afternoon walks along the Erdre, it's about sharing a baguette with your friends on the Cour Cambronne, or enjoying a monaco and some alternative music at the Lieu Unique. There's so much to discover about yourself and Nantes through this program. I highly recommend IES Abroad Nantes if you're looking to truly experience all France and it's people have to offer.

I had studied German for four years, so when I went to Berlin to study abroad everyone assumed that it would be a cinch since I knew the language. Needless to say it was quite easy to get around because I could read signs, but speaking to Germans in German was frightening! But I over came my odd fear by just being immersed in German language and culture. It definitely helped to be studying it as one of my courses, but what really made me feel confident about my ability to speak was having random conversations with German locals. It really was a wonderful experience to meet friendly Germans who obliged in a not-so perfectly spoken conversation. These spontaneous conversations in all sorts of places in Berlin will remain as the highlight of my learning experience.

I had the experience of a lifetime with the IES Siena Summer program! The staff was incredibly attentive and truly cared about their students. I really appreciated that our teachers were native Italians who spoke excellent English, so they provided us with an authentic education about Italian food, language, and culture. The optional field trips were so informative, and the food was amazing-the staff did a great job of picking good restaurants and it was great to have a translator with us. We only had class 4 days a week, giving us time to travel on our own Friday through Sunday, so even though I was only abroad for a month and a half, I got to travel all over Italy. Siena was much beautiful, and the locals speak Italian unlike in Florence, so I learned more Italian than I would have in a bigger city. I stayed in a homestay organized through IES, and had such a positive experience-my host family was so welcoming and cooked an incredible dinner every night, and taught me so much Italian-io imparato Italiano molto subito! I don't have enough good things to say about my study abroad experience!

The eight weeks I spent in Dublin this summer of 2015 are filled with the most fun and unforgettable experiences of my life. So many adventures, so many memories, and lessons learned about myself throughout my internship experience and just my experience of being in a completely different country.

I was always so comfortable in Dublin. There was never a moment when I felt worried or concerned about anything really. Something that completely shocked me was just how incredibly nice everyone was to one another. When walking in to a store or a pub you wouldn't get this customer service that we are used to, so that took a while to get used to, but when it came to being lost and in need of directions there was always someone who would either walk with me and point out where I had to go or draw me a map or give me some sort of traveling tips. I was able to travel and visit the cities of Howth, Cork, Galway, Drogheda, Skerries and of course the Cliffs of Moher over the weekends without it being such a big hassel.

Walking down Grafton Street and enjoying the performances there, or drinking a pint of Guinness at O'Donoghues and listening to live traditional Irish music, going back to Croke Park to see The Script in concert, having local Drogheda band The Enemies sing me happy birthday and even going to see Once The Musical at the Olympia Theater, are examples of just how much of an impact music was throughout my eight week Dublin experience. As a big fan of music, I was never disappointed in the music playing all over Ireland.

As for my internship, I worked four days a week at the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) where my biggest project was to design the organization’s 2014 Annual Report. Apart from that, I also learned valuable office skills, and was a part of the organization’s big DVD and Training Guide launch, their Annual General Meeting and their consistent support for International Students.

I loved being in Dublin, the Irish culture was something that I loved so much more than I thought I would, to the point where I did not want to leave and am now considering returning in the future for my master’s degree.

IES Abroad was incredible from the very beginning. Right from the start, they were attentive to all of my questions and concerns. I was happy with my internship placement and enjoyed all that the program had to offer, whether it be the weekly classroom sessions, side trips like the Experience Gaelic Sports where I played a little bit of handball, hurling and Gaelic football to just being able to live, work, and explore Ireland.

Choosing to intern in London and actually getting the opportunity to do it was one of the best things that has happened to me thus far. I was able to grow professionally and personally. I was able to expand my cultural knowledge and learn how to adapt to a culture different from my own for the first time in my life.

IES provided me an internship placement that allowed me to explore a side of psychology and health care that I had never pictured myself in before. My placement was with a mental health and wellness facility and on most days I was essentially a support worker. Through my internship I was able to establish professional relationships with each of my co-workers, as well as all of the clients that used the centre. These relationships allowed me to experience British culture firsthand through people who have lived there their whole lives. It also provided a lot of interesting conversations about the differences and similarities between British and American cultures that almost always ended in me learning something new.

Being in London for two months I still found new things to do and see every single day. London itself is so rich in diverse cultural and history that even being there for two months I didn't get to see nearly everything that the city has to offer. It was great that the program also offered us a few opportunities to travel outside of the city to see other parts of England, as well as local excursions to get us settled into the culture. It was great of the program to set these things up for us to encourage us to go out and see as much as we possibly could in our time there.

Barcelona, the summer of a lifetime. I was able to explore the wonder that Spain is what it says it is besides the Zara, which I like already. There is much more than clothing in Spain. Food, travel, people, shows, scenery, and much more.
My story begins in the heart of Barcelona. Sitting in front of the square walking through the pigeon crossing. It was a city that glowed. The sports that unraveled and was built upon. I loved the beaches and many programs that took place my time there. I was able to work for a healthcare innovation company, where I realized that the relaxed environment can get work done as well. It opened up my mind that there is much more to the world than USA.

Food was a spectacle. There were so many different varieties of cuisine that made it seem like home. The "mom and pop" kind of diners that made you think about the growth and happiness that occurs in different parts of the world. Barcelona, the city just made me spin as so many kinds of people would come there and the beaches would keep me out tonight.

IES did a great job and literally made my transition like nothing. The staff is so friendly and tells you exactly like it is. No problems and I promise you will love them.

Over Christmas break this past year I sat on my computer and looked at various different study abroad websites. I knew that I wanted to study abroad, but I also knew that I needed to build my resume during the. When I came across the IES Abroad Internship Program, I knew that it was a perfect fit. Not only could I spend an amazing summer in Milan, Italy, but also gain cultural and work experience while doing it! I worked for a tour guide business called Autostradale doing event planning and marketing. The workers were so helpful and welcoming and we still keep contact. I learned so much from them over the course of two months, and they continuously told me they learned from me as well. I also got to travel on the weekends with my new friends and visit beautiful countries such as Spain, Greece, Prague, and Monaco. Milan’s northern location in Italy made it very easy to travel by both train and plane. The friendships I built are still alive and well in the United States and we plan on visiting each other soon! I have had several job interviews in the past month and they have all asked me about my internship. It definitely built my resume and added global knowledge to my background. It was a wonderful experience that I will cherish forever!

Interning in London this past summer was easily one of the best decisions and experiences of my life. I was able to develop professionally, expand my cultural knowledge, explore a diverse and historically rich city and discover myself in a new light.

IES provided me with the perfect internship placement that offered me insight into the marketing, operations, administration and producing departments of an acting company. I was able to work with each of these fields within the company and learn about the logistics of running a successful business. My internship placement also allowed me to interact with co-workers native to London and the surrounding England areas. I was able to develop personal relationships with each one of my co-workers and experience the London culture first-hand through them. Furthermore, in the class offered by IES, I was able to reflect deeper about what it means to be culturally intelligent. The IES staff members were all very knowledgeable and passionate about cross-cultural education, which enhanced our learning in class and our overall experience. Besides working, the program provided us with the perfect amount of time to explore the city and various parts of England as well. They provided field trips for students and organized local excursions to ensure we made the most of our experience. One field trip they planned was to Wimbledon, which was definitely a highlight of my trip!

Overall, this internship pushed me to be more confident, culturally aware and adaptable to new situations. I met incredible people, ate exquisite food, explored breathtaking cities and monuments and sparked a desire live a global life. I would definitely say interning with IES is a must do!