Program Reviews

I participated in the Paris Program of IFE and I can say that it definitely changed my life (I know it may sound cliché, but it's true)! I was a second-semester junior when I studied abroad and my level of French was not at the place where I could confidently strike up a conversation with anyone. I remember my first few days in Paris, before the program began, feeling completely lost and suffering immense culture shock that I didn't expect as I already knew another language. However, the IFE team always were/still is a safe haven for all their students, former and current.

When you come into the program, every thing you do is sort of up to you and what I mean by that is, you shape the way your experience will go. IFE will help, but you have to make the effort to be open with them. I know for me, I dealt with a heavy workload in juggling the classes along with my internship as I was involved in a demanding industry. It was stressful and I remember confronting those challenges on my own, but when I knew I needed more advice and help I went to Thomas and Julie. They were so kind and gave me so much support in navigating the balance between the classes and the internship. I could always message them and they would check-in with me, and it made such a great difference knowing that I had people I could go to when I felt conflicted or overwhelmed.

I would say one of the most memorable moments for me, beyond the internship and being able to make friendships that I cherish, was during one of our classes where we were preparing for our internships. Julie drew a diagram about our comfort zones, and how we would be having to push ourselves outside of the zones where everything is safe and familiar, to the third and fourth zone because that is where true growth and enjoyment will be experienced. It stuck with me because I had never done something like what the program offers of being independent and immersing yourself into a city and its language. IFE's classes do a great job in prepping you with knowledge on the politics, history, and culture of the country to be to gradually integrate yourself into the area. Outside of the classes and internship, you have so many opportunities to become part of the community. You can meet so many amazing folks from your housing choice, the activities planned by IFE, traveling around the city, going to local events or doing activities in Paris, eating at random little spots by yourself, and much more. I took this lesson with me as I pushed myself to speak in French when I was out and about. However, it taught me a lot about myself and I got to have some memorable experiences and growth out of those moments.

The experience I had with IFE and specifically, the Paris program is something I will always have high praises for because it made me realize more about myself through the classes, activities, internship, and friends I made through it all. I grew in ways I never expected, I became more vocal about my ideas and opinions (which was quite the shocker to all of us), confident, independent, resilient, and empathetic! It is a wild ride and it isn't always easy, but if you want an experience of getting integrated with your community and city, and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone then, IFE is one of the best programs to choose. The IFE team is one of the most compassionate, knowledgable, and open-minded group of people you will meet.

I studied through the IFE Strasbourg program in the Fall of 2019. This was my very first experience abroad, and I honestly do not regret it. Being able to take courses (that covered my major requirements) and travel really opened my eyes to new experiences! Also my internship was based on my academic & career interests. I got to work with an amazing group of students and faculty both in IFE and my internship. My dissertation project was rewarded The Forum of Education Abroad Award of Academic Achievement Abroad.
It was hard at times but 100% worth it.

I still reference my notes from the preparatory session!

I participated in the Strasbourg, France program in the spring of 2018, during which I stayed with a host family and interned at the National and University Library (la BNU). This experience gave me so much vocabulary and so much cultural insight that are absolutely necessary to any degree (major or minor too!) in French. I am currently a PhD candidate and a T.A. in French Studies, and I love sharing my study abroad stories with my students. In many ways, my semester in Strasbourg opened the door to graduate school.

Even if you're not earning a PhD in languages, the IFE program will make you a competitive candidate for any job. What employer would not be impressed by an international internship?

IFE has several different locations, but I participated in the Strasbourg program. It began with a month of three courses – French history, culture, and foreign relations – taught in French by French professors. This was great practice for listening to and writing French, as well as understanding the typical French university course. During the same month, IFE provided us opportunities to further engage with Strasbourg through various outings, taking us to several museums, events with Strasbourgeois, European institutions, and nearby cities. The final element of the first month was “practical work,” time set aside each day for us to discuss in French with our site director the class material, recent outings, surprises in everyday Strasbourg life, and anything else we wanted to process. Small assignments accompanied practical work (an ethnographic exercise, an intercultural engagement packet), but the focus was discussion, allowing us to speak lots of French and share insights for quicker adjustment to Strasbourg.

After the preparatory month, which greatly increased my French proficiency and began orienting me to life in France, came the core of IFE — the internship and field research thesis. My internship was with the French organization AMSED which encourages cultural exchange through international programs, youth meetings, and support of isolated populations in Strasbourg. As AMSED intern, I became a key contributor to a fast-paced French work environment by creating marketing materials, translating, distributing information to the public, and aiding neighborhood organizations that offered after-school homework help and supervised playtime for local children. My research thesis concerned gender socialization in France, which I observed during the course of my internship duties.

Being in France enriched my education and life in many ways, most of them stemming from the dramatic increase in my French proficiency that IFE helped me to achieve. If I had not been able to so vastly increase my ability to communicate clearly in French, I would not have been able to form meaningful relationships with native French speakers and therefore better understand their culture, have been viewed by Strasbourgeois not as a tourist but as a resident leading to truer everyday interactions, nor become interested in elements of French culture such as music, literature, and television. For research, my French made it possible for me to talk with adults in their native language, leading to more accurate and properly nuanced findings. I became so attached to Strasbourg and its people that I applied for and won a fellowship in 2019 which enabled me to return to the city for the summer of 2019 and continue nurturing relationships that I started during my time with IFE, as well as conduct sociological research on representation of race and gender in tram stops advertisements. I used this data for my senior thesis in Sociology.

Immersion in French and France through IFE had practical applications, but it also fueled my love for language and desire to explore cultures, ultimately inspiring me to pursue an international career; I hope to one day work in diplomacy or for a multi-national company. In an effort to realize this goal, I applied for and won a Fulbright grant. IFE was instrumental in opening these doors by providing me with an immersive, culturally-focused, and rich experience in France. I would recommend this program without any reservation to students looking for an immersive experience in French language and culture.

IFE was a program that without a doubt changed my life. As a French major, IFE allowed me to immerse myself in the French culture and language in a way that many other study abroad programs could not. IFE provided an exceptional academic experience, outstanding internships, opportunities for self-growth and valuable tools for inward and outward exploration. This program is rigorous and is to be taken seriously, but it's also a place to have fun and make friendships that will last a lifetime.
IFE is a transformational program for anyone who is willing to commit to it. It truly changed my life, so much so, that after an unforgettable experience in Paris in 2015, I joined the 2017 cohort in Strasbourg.
If you are passionate about the french language, culture and people, then IFE is the place for you.

Academic Rigor
The academic rigor of the IFE program is unparalleled, it allows you to learn and flourish academically. Through its classes IFE teaches you not only about the Spanish language, but also about what makes the Asturias program special as a local and cultural site. The program allows you to gain academic knowledge about Spanish history, language, culture and economics, from professors that care about their students’ well-being. The academic experience extends beyond the classroom through excursions to cultural and historical sites. IFE takes what is learned in the classroom and allows students to apply that knowledge outside of it.

Cultural Impact
The cultural impact of IFE is where it truly shines, as learning about the principality of Asturias in class allows students to converse with native speakers about cultural topics in a meaningful and productive way. Instead of focusing on the awkwardness of being a student in a foreign place, IFE gives students the tools to engage with their environment. The program fosters relationships between you and native speakers, and other colleagues, students, and peers. IFE forces you outside of your comfort zone and allows you to reflect on your experiences and journal them. Through this reflection IFE students create lifelong memories and have an opportunity to obtain the certificate of intercultural competency.

Internship Experience
The internship experience will allow you to meet and work with native speakers on a professional level. IFE grants you a professional engagement that other study abroad programs simply do not offer. The program allows students to speak about their passions and engage in internship experience in a field they enjoy, all while speaking a foreign language. This experience is emblematic of the program and is what truly sets IFE apart. Through this internship you will create lifelong connections as well as crucial life experience.

Advice to Travelers, and Students Alike
Remember to have fun! Although, IFE is challenging, it is an equally rewarding experience. Remember to have fun and participate in social and cultural events. IFE has many cultural excursions, classes, and experiences that are unforgettable, and create a lifelong appreciation for a new culture and its people. So remember to take breaks, and simply enjoy the cultural and language immersion that the program entails.

I had always known that I wanted to study abroad, but I was never very picky about which program I went with. But I distinctly remember Thomas's presentation about IFE in my Spanish class because, from that point on, I had it planned that I would apply to IFE. I liked that they veered off the traditional path of study abroad programs. Instead of structuring it as a sort of semester long "experience" (vacation, essentially), IFE is clear that their program is not catering exclusively to the student, but instead is offering the student a chance to step out of their comfort zone, be an outsider, and have the privileged experience of being able to immerse yourself completely in another way of life. While intensely rewarding, this experience can also present difficulties which is why I differentiate it from traditional study abroad programs where the student more or less is vacationing in another country, for example not speaking the native language, having classes in English, living in a dorm with other English speakers, etc. It was important to me that I did a program where I had a host family, spent all or most of the day speaking Spanish, and actually learned about the culture and society of the place I was in. My goals aligned exactly with what IFE offered.

I did my internship at the People's Museum of Asturias, where I worked principally with the documentalist who archives everything that the museum collects, and also does work with the exhibitions the museum creates. I'm a History and Spanish joint major at my school, so I learned further about the regional history of Asturias and was able to further my knowledge of Spanish history. I'm also interested in working in museums when I'm older, so I was able to explore that career path further with this internship.

The classes were a really great way to get comfortable speaking with native speakers, and especially the history class we took gave me a great base of knowledge to then go into the museum and learn further. There is an eclectic mix of teachers who all have their unique qualities and bring great energy to the classes. The comfortable setting of a classroom and going to school was also particularly helpful when in a completely new place.

I was very lucky to connect incredibly well with my host family. We were very similar and shared many interests. I enjoyed spending time with them and it also helped me learn and immerse myself further than students who were not as close with their families. I also got to see the "traditional" family life in Spain and see how it compared and contrasted with family life in the US. Going out on the weekends with the other students allowed us to meet other people near our age and we made a few friends as well!

The most important thing I learned is that I should never regret anything. Which may sound weird, but at the end of my program we had a brunch where one of my teachers asked us: if we could change anything about the program, what would it be? And it dawned on me I wouldn't want to change anything. Every mistake, slip up, bad day, good day, every moment was crucial to where I had gotten to at the end of the program and I wouldn't trade that for the world. I also learned that while other countries and places may seem strikingly different than ours, there are actually MANY more similarities than we think. We are connected more than we are separated. Furthermore, valuing our differences without judgment or shame also connects people even more.

IFE is a program like no other. There is structure and direction in every aspect of this program. The internship program gives you autonomy over your work-life balance. Balancing working hard at your internship and socializing with newfound friends. This program challenges you to operate outside your comfort zone. It is truly an experience that rewards every ounce of effort you put into it. I have made lifelong friends from IFE, honed my language skills, and developed a forever love with Paris.

If you are looking to challenge yourself and grow academically, professionally, and personally, look no further. IFE provides a unique experience that culminates traditional study abroad experiences with professional work opportunities that will assist you in your career for years to come. This program will challenge you daily, and you will leave with memories that last a lifetime.

I completed the Paris program in spring 2016. IFE provides a safe environment for students, and supports them through all aspects of living abroad beyond the academics. The staff and professors genuinely care about you. I had a very challenging start to the semester, and the staff dedicated much of their personal time to supporting me.

Different from other study abroad programs, you are truly immersed in the daily life of that culture. IFE provides regular excursions and events to provide structure and incredibly fun opportunities, and supports you throughout the program, but you get to create your own unique relationships with colleagues, roommates, neighbors, and classmates.

I cannot recommend this program enough.

My semester with IFE was a formative experience in my life. The program is for students who have achieved intermediate French in their prior studies, and are looking to have the full experience of living in a francophone society. It begins with five weeks of course work, before students take on full-time internships at some of the foremost organizations in France and Europe. The exposure IFE students get is second to none, and the staff becomes like family. The internships, meanwhile, provide meaningful work experience. I still list my internship on my resume, 6 years post-graduation, because it affirms my ability to live and work abroad and collaborate in multilingual environments. I cannot recommend IFE enough to students who are looking to immerse themselves in a study abroad experience.