IES Abroad Berlin – Language, Culture & Politics

My time with IES Abroad felt very well-organized and well-planned. There were no hidden aspects or questions that couldn't be answered with a quick call. My time in Berlin was rewarding and something I will cherish forever. I was able to participate in student life as the event planner and marketing executive of the IES Berlin Student Council, and I enjoyed participating in field trips to Sachsenhausen and Munich, where we got guided tours about the history and significance of the locations and sights we visited. As I'm not a city person, immersing myself in Berlin was tough at first. However, the staff at IES Abroad Berlin helped me adjust to these new emotions and the feeling of being out of place. I began solo-traveling to different countries and cities, exploring in ways I knew I would enjoy, and I am so grateful that Berlin was able to give me this new sense of independence. I never would have gained this independence by staying in my hometown. Living in a new country challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, adapt quickly, and rely on myself in ways I hadn’t before. I learned a lot about who I am while in Berlin, which is why it was one of the most rewarding and transformative parts of my college years. While studying abroad in Berlin, I was one of the presidency, marketing, and student affairs interns for an international university, where I primarily focused on online presence, social media operations, organization, and analysis. This hands-on experience will help me gain an international position at a bilingual company after graduation. There are a lot of things that you can learn through a textbook or lecture hall, but nothing compares to first-hand experience. I have been learning German my whole life, but speaking it in a casual, daily conversation wasn't something I was used to before going abroad. Through studying abroad, I was able to immerse myself in Germany’s culture, hobbies, and customs, and that is something I wouldn't have learned in a classroom setting. I wish I had made more friends while I was abroad, because that is what I saw everyone else gain from their experiences, but what I gained was more personal. I gained freedom, independence, responsibility, and organization. These are skills I will be able to highlight and use in my personal life and future career, and I have IES Abroad to thank.

My experience with the IES Freiburg study abroad program was nothing short of exceptional. The academic quality, cultural immersion, and support were top-notch. Professors engaged us in the city and made learning in German a joy. Cultural excursions enriched my understanding of Germany. Living in an apartment with other German students was invaluable for language practice and cultural integration, and was the highlight of my semester abroad. The program's staff were always there to help, making the transition smooth. But what truly made it unforgettable were the lifelong friendships formed with fellow students. This program is a life-changing opportunity to explore Germany and Europe while growing academically and personally. Highly recommended!

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In a city as metropolitan and diverse as Berlin, it's impossible to see an explore everything in a single semester - or a single lifetime for that matter. That said, Berlin is amazing, and there's something for everyone if know where to look, and you're not afraid go out of your comfort zone finding it. The IES Berlin program did an excellent job introducing the students to the fundamentals of life in Berlin (German language skills, familiarity with German culture, the train system, health services, etc.) and supporting students as they found their niche and built their new lives in city. IES offered regular trips and activities around the city and the country encouraging me to see important parts of the culture and history that I might have missed otherwise. In addition, (mostly) excellent professors pushed my German language abilities so that I was able to engage more fully with the people around me. The classes also encouraged me to engage with Berlin, taking me on walking tours and assigning interview projects with Berliners. Beyond class, I had plenty of time to explore the things that attracted me. Berlin has a great music scene, and Tinder and Facebook are alive and well for getting to know locals. The student assistants employed by the program were incredibly friendly and had tons of great recommendations and advice as we went out to find our own favorite bars, sports teams, and activities. Whenever I was in Berlin, I never felt like I was alone. Staff members were prepared to accompany me to the hospital when I had health issues, and we regularly received emails with invitations and notifications about events that might interest a student who feels lost or isolated. It's was ultimately up to me as to get what I wanted out of my time in the city, but IES was there to help and support me the entire way.

My year abroad in Berlin has been one of the best experiences of my life. Studying abroad provided me with a chance to truly experience the German culture and language firsthand while also getting to learn a different side of myself. This experience has shaped me into a person who is willing to be adventurous, chase understanding, and explore new sides of myself and my surroundings. But not only have I gotten to know myself, but I have become a part of the language and culture around me. Being able to take classes both through IES and Humboldt University, I have been able to learn about the German educational culture while furthering my German language skills immensely. But while these aspects of my education have given me a greater understanding and appreciation of studying in Germany, they almost do not compare to the amount I have learned outside of the classroom. Living in Berlin has taught me more about Germany - in the past and the future - than I could have ever hoped to learn from afar. I have been able to live and be part of the history of Germany. My home-stay taught me about the German culture and past from the point of view of someone who lives it everyday. It is truly amazing to be able to discuss things like the Berlin Wall with someone who lived in Berlin from the time of the Wall's creation until the time of its destruction. Things like that can only happen on a study abroad like this, and this is just one small example of the amazing things I have been able to experience through this study abroad experience. No matter what I do in the future, I know that this experience has helped shaped me into an independent, open, and ever-learning individual. I could not be more satisfied with my IES Abroad Berlin experience, and I highly recommend the opportunity to anyone and everyone.

After four months in Berlin with IES, I can confidently say that I have found a new home in Berlin! Not only was the city itself a lively place to live as a student with countless concerts, exhibitions, parties, and other events going on every week, but my homestay was cozy and comfortable and my host family super kind, generous, and excited to chat and help me improve my German. From an academic standpoint IES also exceeded expectations. I took only classes with IES (I wish I could have taken classes at Humboldt or Freie Universitat, but due to the German university schedule (fall/winter semester classes end in February) I could not), which worked well for me, as I prefer small seminar-style classes and being able to speak with and get to know my professors. The course load was manageable, and all of my professors were so friendly, funny, and smart. I actually wanted to go to class and learn from them. Above all, they were sympathetic to the fact that all of us were German students, not native speakers, and it was clear that they cared about our success. The student assistants at IES, all students at Humboldt, were available for tutoring sessions to help proofread assignments or simply to provide general advice and recommendations in Berlin. They were a great resource! All of my classes also put an emphasis on using Berlin as a classroom, which meant lots of "field trips" and excursions to relevant museums and monuments, libraries and archives, or to theater performances. That was definitely a huge plus to being in Berlin, and one of the academic highlights for me. In the case of any concerns or problems, the staff at IES was always available and willing to help, super approachable and friendly. My only complaints would be an occasional lack of organization and communication, especially at the beginning of and prior to the program about scheduling. On the whole, however, I would definitely recommend IES Berlin for anyone looking to improve their German and interested in really learning and getting to know this beautiful city. I will definitely be back!

This program gave me the time of my life. I was able to live in the formal East side of Berlin with a former East German. I learned so much and the professors were great to work with, in fact my GPA went up while I was abroad and I was traveling around Europe. All and all this program is awesome and it was a great step for me to improve my German.

Let me start by saying: I became convinced over the course of my semester in Berlin that it's basically the best place in the world. It's a capital city, but without many of the things that ruin a capital city and make it boring and unlivable. It's cheap, young, political, and there's an incredible amount happening. There's great music, bars, parks, even multiple lakes for swimming not too far away (some with sand beaches). But in addition, the city also has so much history, including incredible museums, monuments, and memorials. I've travelled a fair amount in my life, and lived in the UK and the US, and I found Berlin truly unique. All of this is not to say that Berlin is without problems, but you'll learn about those in your courses and become more attuned over time. None of it persuaded me to revise my opinion. The IES Programme itself was also great. The people that work there were always available and helpful, whether with course questions or health insurance queries. I took half of my courses within the programme. I would especially recommend Multicultural Berlin with Sabine Berking-- I learned a lot about Berlin and Germany, and we took some awesome field trips to places around the city. My German improved unbelievably quickly just from being there and being immersed, and I'm so glad I had this opportunity. I would say that I did not feel hugely academically stretched by my IES courses, but they catered well to a wide range of German abilities, and if you are feeling more confident, there is an opportunity to take classes with ~real~ German students at Humboldt. This is something I would absolutely recommend. Though it was a little effort to make it work, it was definitely worth it to meet people outside the programme and feel like a real Berlin student. For this reason, if you are only going for one semester and it is an option for you, I would definitely recommend going in the spring, as the Humboldt semester doesn't line up particularly well with our semesters, and in the spring the extra couple months run into summer rather than your spring semester back in the US (I was in Berlin until the end of July). Plus it means that the weather only gets nicer and nicer while you are there! Most of my friends in the programme lived in home-stays in the city. I personally had an amazing experience and grew close with my host mum. Others had more difficulties, which is tough for IES to solve, though they will talk things through with you. A couple other of my friends organised living arrangements outside of IES, and so lived alone or with other students, which is an option to consider if you're feeling very motivated.

I really enjoyed my experience with IES Abroad. The courses were challenging, but not too overwhelming and there were a lot of opportunities to get involved with the local university. It's a bit hard to meet Germans, but I think that's true for most foreigners in Germany. Berlin is an amazing city and worth the trip.

Similar to many people studying abroad, I had numerous great experiences which contributed to my cultural understanding of Berlin as well as the German language. However, more importantly were the connections I established while in Berlin and the resources offered to me through the IES program. My courses were challenging and engaging, allowing students to learn a great deal and share their own perspectives on particular readings. An additional aspect of courses was the emphasis on many "hands-on activities" (for instance, a self-guided walk around a part of the city or a tour of Bertolt Brecht's house). In terms of the students, they are all highly motivated and certainly show a passion for learning German and attending events, which makes the environment even more pleasant. As far as the staff is concerned, I cannot thank each and every one for making the process significantly easier. Problems with housing, visa, courses, internships, etc. were all handled quickly and it became apparent that the IES staff prioritized each student's happiness while abroad. Many students typically must take specific courses in their field of study which are not offered by IES, but the IES staff helps facilitate taking courses at the local Berlin Universities (Humboldt Universität being the more common choice). This not only allowed students to finish course requirements, but also engage with the students at the nearby universities and establish worldwide friendships. Whether someone wants to participate in sport related organizations, internships, or pursue other interests, many opportunities exist for program students and the IES program helps offer assistance. I would undoubtedly recommend the IES Berlin (Language and Area Studies Program) to anyone interested in participating. I guarantee the experience is both rewarding and unique!

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I'm writing this at the end of my year abroad, not wanting to have to leave my life in Germany. This year has been one of the best of my life, and it couldn't have been without the help of IES Abroad. I immediately felt at home and comfortable in my new environment. At the beginning, like with all new things, everyone was a bit shy and culture shocked. But every step of the way the wonderful staff of IES Berlin did their best to make everyone's adjustment smooth, make sure we got to know each other and bond, and answered any and all questions we may have had. I always felt I was in safe hands, whether my problems were about academics, my living situation, friends, or my physical health. By the end of my stay I felt like a true Berliner. I fell so in love with the city I am now planning everything I can to return with the guidance of the lovely IES staff. They truly have a passion for the students and their life in the city, as well as the entire study abroad experience in itself. I can't thank them enough!

Hey there! I’m assuming that since you’re reading this you are looking into going abroad. I have one simple piece of advice for you – do it. It will change your life. I know that sounds cliché but I promise it’s true. I went on the IES Berlin: Language and Area Studies program during the Fall 2015 semester. My program was a language intensive one since I wanted to perfect my German but if you don’t know German there is another IES Berlin program that is entirely in English and just as awesome. Berlin is the most incredible place I have ever been – and that is coming from someone who traveled to 13 countries during my semester abroad. It manages to flawlessly combine its rich history with its current modernism. It is a city where you are free to be unapologetically unique in any way you wish to be. The program itself was run by some of the kindest people I have ever met and the schedule is designed in a way that allows for exploration and adventure since it is really easy to pick classes that allow for a three day weekend. On top of that, all the teachers made sure to incorporate Berlin into the course – whether it was through field trips to museums or trips to sporting events or debates about controversial topics being discussed in Germany, there was a real effort to immerse us in Berlin as a whole. Overall, going abroad was the best choice I have ever made and I am confident that wherever you go, you’ll have a life changing experience.

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Studying abroad in Germany was one of the best decisions I could of made for my Fall semester! Everyone was really friendly, from the staff, the professors, and all the students who were in Berlin. There was so much that I took out of this program, from improving my German to planning my trips outside of Germany. The host family made me feel like I was right at home and it made the transition to staying abroad much easier. Everything about the program was so amazing and I can't wait to head back to Germany!

IES was an overall fantastic experience. It did require, however, working outside of the program to meet locals and immerse myself. There were several excursions that were part of course work, which was incredible to learn about a piece of German history and then go see it in context. Other than these excursions with my American classmates, experiencing German culture and meeting locals was mostly up to me to discover. It was quite difficult to find locals that were interested in befriending an American who would leave in four months. I was determined to not allow a little culture barrier prevent me from meeting locals, so I joined a rowing team in southern Berlin and it became the highlight of my experience! This program really does allow for you to live independently (aside from living with a host family), but you must be comfortable going out of your way to make your abroad experience worth while. Additionally my housing situation was not ideal for me. My host family was more interested in me as a renter than me as a guest. My suggestion would be to get an apartment with locals that are closer to your age and are living a typical student lifestyle. I often felt like I was intruding on the family, and it was strange having lived on my own during college and then being placed with a family with children that was not my own, I felt very out of place. I initially was really excited to have a host family, but in the end, I realized how much I would have preferred living with people my own age who would be studying and living a similar lifestyle to me.

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Going abroad was one of the best decisions of my life! I will say that it was tough in the beginning but after just 2 months of being home, I cannot wait to go back. The Language and Area Studies program was exceptional. We had a great facility located in Mitte (the central district in Berlin) and the staff and teachers were amazing! I made awesome friends (American and German) and learned so much about the city, the country, and myself. If you are on the fence about going, just do it. You wont regret it. Trust me!

I wasn't sure what to expect from my study abroad experience because I knew there was so much I was going to experience that I didnt even know what to assume. That being said, my time at IES was so wonderful and wayyyy more than I expected. I was able to improve my German because all our classes were in German, all the professors were awesome, very dedicated to students and super approachable, I made some lifelong friends (as cheesy as this sounds, its 100% true), and I felt like I knew almost all the staff at IES and could talk to them about any needs or concerns that I had. It was very much a family atmosphere which was so refreshing, considering I come from a large research university with 30,000 students. I really appreciated how many opportunities they provided us, from welcome and holiday dinners to extra curricular activities to German student tutors for any language issues we had to planned out trips that were still very flexible so we could choose what we wanted to do. Although IES can be on the pricier side of study abroad programs, if its financially feasible, I HIGHLY recommend studying abroad with IES. It was everything I expected and so much more.

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Berlin was not as much a German city as it was a multi-cultural city. It is a place where all nations are represented, including people, food and architecture. There were so many people from all over the world and all walks of life. Every time I was on the U-Bahn (metro) or the S-Bahn (city-train) I would here languages ranging from English (Australian, British, American, Canadian) to Turkish to Japanese to Swedish to Spanish to Serbian. It was remarkable to think that we all ended up in this small space at this moment in time in this specific city. I also learned a great deal from the relaxed academic environment at the IES Berlin center, which enabled me to fully understand and more importantly appreciate the uniqueness that is Berlin- there is not another city like it. This relaxed and not-demanding workload also allowed for frequent travel within Berlin and Germany, but also to neighboring nations for a great price. It was almost too easy to say "hey let's go to Barcelona for the weekend, it's only 42euros round-trip." This travel was also very important to IES: this independence was fully explained by the program staff. All program health and safety was fantastic in preparation and I always felt safe knowing that my program was very well prepared to handle anything that might happen. This was something that was very important to me. I was only in Berlin from September 1st -December 19th, but I accomplished a great deal and saw so much of a part of the world I had never been to before. IES Berlin made my time abroad an absolutely remarkable experience that I would highly recommend to anyone! Take the time to see the world as a student. It is something unparalleled.

IES Berlin was the best experience I could have asked for! I loved my host family and learned so much about the culture from them – whether it was learning to eat the “European” way, or hearing idioms and common phrases you can’t find in the classroom. My homestay was also where I improved my German the most, since we only spoke together auf Deutsch. Berlin is such a huge city with a million fun, cool things to do every week, so it was great that the IES Berlin staff always sent out emails about happenings, or posted flyers around the building about museums, outdoor markets, festivals, and other cultural events. It made everything a little less hectic. Plus being a student meant that transportation was free – U-bahn, S-bahn, trams, buses. You could get to anywhere so easily – it gave me a sense of confidence and freedom I’d never had before. I really enjoyed this program and would recommend it to anyone interested in going to Berlin!

The Language and Area Studies Program in Berlin definitely met and exceeded my expectations! Within a few weeks of the semester I fell in love with the city, and by the end I didn’t want to leave. The IES staff in Berlin was really helpful/accommodating and made sure that we made the most of our abroad experience. While in Berlin, I stayed in a small apartment in the middle of the city with two German students, which was a great opportunity because I got to experience the city with Germans who had lived in the city for years. My day-to-day life was conducted almost entirely in German and so my German language ability improved tremendously throughout the semester. I also signed up through Humboldt University’s “Sprachzentrum” and found two language partners that I still keep in touch with them even though I am back in the US. There was so much to do in Berlin that not once did I ever feel like I was bored and looking for something to do. From the cultural aspect to learning German to the famous Berlin nightlife, there was definitely more to experience than was possible in just 4 short months. I would highly recommend this program to anyone that has a passion for German and wants to spend a semester/year in one of the coolest cities in the world!

The IES program was well run and overall very organized. The staff was always helpful and informative about events going on in the city. I feel that my classes at IES definitely helped my language skills. My vocabulary grew immensely, as well as my confidence with my speaking abilities. The professors were all intelligent and understanding. My favorite class was my theater class. This class allowed me to see 8 plays at 3 different theaters. My housing situation was well selected. I enjoyed my location in Prenzlauer Berg because it was close to the tram, U-bahn and S-bahn. I loved Berlin and would highly recommend this program.

Studying abroad in Freiburg with IES was one of the best decisions I've ever made. While the language barrier could be a challenge, all of the staff were incredibly helpful, friendly, and always available when/if needed. I specifically chose this program because of its focus on language immersion and I got just that. All classes were taught in German and the professors presented material effectively and were willing to help if someone was confused. I lived in a dorm about 10 minutes away from the city center by Straßebnahn or bike with other German students. This was great for cultural immersion and helped improve my German drastically. The city is beautiful and surrounded by hills and forests. While it is a smaller city, there is always something to do, from hiking in the Black Forest to exploring the side streets or neighborhoods of Freiburg. IES is great at encouraging German language and cultural immersion and plan a few excursions for students to partake in. These range from week-long trips to day trips and are all wonderful experiences that help students see different parts of the country and Europe. My semester in Freiburg with IES was one that I will never forget!