IES Abroad Santiago

Studying abroad in Santiago, Chile was an unforgettable experience. I would highly recommend prospective students to consider choosing either this location or one equally "non-traditional". This way, you can gain a more intimate feeling within your study abroad program. The IES Santiago program fit perfectly with my interests because the smaller program size of 20 students made it easier to make friend within the program while offering ample space to make friends with the locals.

The most challenging aspects about my study abroad experience was adjusting to the Chilean dialect and to the university grading system. However, the IES staff were more than willing to answer any/all of my questions. The best memories I have of this experience is the traveling we were able to do throughout our semester. Chile is an extremely geographically diverse country and transportation is very accessible both domestically and internationally.

Not getting discouraged by the difficulty of communicating goes a long way. I personally benefited from plugging into a local Korean-Chilean church where I met friends who I continue to keep in contact with. I highly recommend finding a certain niche of local friends who can not only help you improve your conversational Spanish, but who will also show you parts of the city/country that you may never have stumbled upon on your own.

I spent a semester in Santiago studying with IES and at la Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (PUC), one of the top-ranked universities in South America. There are also opportunities to take classes la Universidad de Chile, another excellent school. All classes are taught in Spanish, and, though Chilean Spanish, with all its "chilenismos," is admidedly difficult to pick up on right away, after a few weeks of adjusting, I felt comfortable in the classroom. The IES staff is fantastic - friendly, knowledgable, and willing to help - and the professors really know their stuff, and are generally very patient with American students.
IES arranges housing with host families, which is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the local culture and language. The homes are in safe neighborhoods, and IES takes care to make sure the students feel comfortable there. I also highly recommend signing up for Tandem, a language exchange program sponsored by PUC which pairs foreigners who want to practice their Spanish with Chileans who want to practice your language. You meet once a week for an hour, speaking alternatively in the two shared languages. This was one of the highlights of my semester and it is a great way meet local students and make Chilean friends.
There is plenty to do in Santiago - lots of museums, cultural events, and nightlife. Beyond the city, there are incredible travel opportunities. The Andes Mountains provide a perfect location for hiking or skiing and are just an hour or so away. Or go west for a Pacific Coast day trip. From north to south, Chile is home to spectacular landscapes that are must-see's. The Atacama Desert, Chiloe, and Patagonia were some of my favorites.

the best part about studying abroad was all of the traveling I was able to do and all of the adventures I was able to have. I had more free time than I ever have had in college which led me to a lot of traveling and adventures. I did everything I could from hang-gliding across the dessert, beach and city, hiking with penguins in Patagonia, horse back riding in the driest dessert in the world, ice picking my way to the top of an active volcano and skiing in the Andes Mountains and just like soo much more. It was great that there were so many cultural events like carnivals, festivals, concerts and parades that were so much fun to attend. I lived with a host family which i think was a great choice, i was able to practice my spanish all of the time and all of my meals were made fore me (breakfast in bed everyday, like seriously, who can complain about that?!). Day to day life was great, the weather was like perfect all the time, it never even broke out my winter jacket! Traveling was really easy living in Santiago, its the center for absolutely everything and there are cheap buses to EVERYWHERE. Even airfare was super affordable. The one thing I did not like was how expensive day to day life was. Food, day to day transportation, drinks and clothing are all pretty expensive. Although taxis were unbelievably cheap. Overall it was an amazing experience and I could not have asked for a better staff who was always willing to help and always so patient with my awful spanish skills. I definitely recommend this program and especially recommend taking classes at the local university to really meet more Chileans. I was not a strong spanish speaker at all and still kept up my GPA.

Everything about my experience in Santiago was absolutely fantastic! My center staff, my host mom, and my peers were all quite helpful and collaborative! My host mom helped me with my homework and speaking skills, prepared all my meals, integrated me into her family, and in general, really took care of me. I did not come into the program knowing anyone, but my group ended up becoming really close because there were so few of us (only 25!). It was difficult at first to communicate solely in Spanish as I had never been fully immersed before, but it quickly became much easier (and almost second habit even!) to the point where I came back home and realized that I had begun to think in Spanish! I think this program definitely helped me develop a lot, both on a personal level and on the level of improving my Spanish skills. I would highly recommend it to everyone!

IES Abroad in Santiago was the best semester so far of my college career. I was challenged and stretched on a daily basis, but it was worth every tear of frustration, every awkward moment, and every twinge of homesickness I ever felt. I made a spur of the moment decision to study in Chile and had no prior knowledge of the country nor any expectations. However, I encountered one of the most naturally beautiful, culturally interesting, and historically and politically stimulating countries. Being there to celebrate their national holiday, the dieciocho (September 18) was a highlight, and I felt a part of another culture. I learned about their history and political situation and how the United States has influenced that, and not always for the better. My host family, however, was what became the best part of my experience. That's a realization that hit me after being back in the States because in these last four months since being home, not a day has gone by when I don't think of them at some moment. And so now I'm still getting homesick, but this time it's for Chile.

Study abroad in Santiago was an absolutely incredible experience. I loved the IES program, especially for its size and its wonderful staff. As a city, Santiago is one of the most exciting cities I've visited. I loved the arts and culture, the endless options for things to do, and the general culture.

I had a superb time in Santiago, Chile. I though academics might be sub-par, but when I got there I discovered I was very satisfied with the quality of my classes. I took classes at IES and at the local catholic university, which is the highest ranked university in the country and offers courses in most US majors. Living in Santiago was awesome, as it is a big city with lots to do. There is also ample opportunity to travel within Chile and South America. It really is a cultural and Spanish immersion. Be prepared for Chileans to speak quickly and with a lot of their own expressions and slang (they are wonderful people though!).

IES Santiago is a must. The city is so fun and there are always so many things to do. The staff at IES is very helpful and genuinely very nice. The food is awesome. I hope you like bread tho... The weather is really nice. It never rains. The view of the Andes Mountains from anywhere in the city is mesmerizing. Torres del Paine, San Pedro de Atacama, Valparaiso, Pucón, and Chiloé are just some of the incredible places you can travel to in Chile. I was able to see real penguins in their natural habitat! The clinical observation program with IES was unreal. I was able to witness heart surgeries, brain surgeries, and even births. Learning spanish in Chile can be difficult with a lot of slang but you pick it up very fast and people are so nice and always willing to help.