IES Abroad Freiburg – Language & Area Studies

IES Abroad does a fantastic job of offering authentic experiences with the host country’s culture and educational system while catering to students with experience in the American education system. Orientation is in-depth for culture shock, language (whether or not you speak it), educational system, and so many opportunities to make friends with international and local students. IES offers a few faculty-led trips within the host country/surrounding area, which are incredible. They do a great job of picking cities with a rich history and that would be difficult for students to plan a trip encompassing the maximum number of highlights with enough time to enjoy the city. The staff also book tours of the cities with professionals who are always willing to speak at a lower level of fluency with students and explain concepts and events in several ways to that students all understand their point within the host language (if different that native language). Professors are the same and students can tell that professors genuinely enjoy both the subject they are teaching as well as interactions with students from all over the US and are very interested in comparing their experiences to students’.

I felt extremely comfortable in Freiburg from the first day I arrived to the last. A big part of this in my mind is down to the environment and attitude the city fostered. With its bike riding and pedestrian-friendly vibe combined with the fact that it felt just the right size. Not too big and dangerous but also enough people to feel excited. It is also a very beautiful and sunny city. This combined with IES gives us the freedom to learn while providing support and help to stay safe and enjoy. IES had the perfect balance of providing group activity but not restricting us or keeping us too busy. They understood that we would want to get out into the city and take risks. I appreciated how they showed us how to do this in the safest way possible and did not control us too much. IES did most of the hard work to make settling in very easy and the staff were very supportive and friendly. It felt like a family from day one. The classes and professors were all very good and I liked how they emphasized that we should be speaking German. All of this combined led me to enjoy and feel at home in Freiburg all while pushing my comfort zone and experiencing new things.

I was in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany for three wonderful weeks before I was sent home due to COVID-19. When I arrived I was greeted by a local German student who lived in my building. I had some time in my room to rest and unpack before meeting the group of IES students and student guides for dinner at a local restaurant. We got to know each other and made plans to find grocery stores, cook dinner, and explore the city together. I had been nervous about making friends, but once I was there it was pretty obvious that everyone wanted to hang out with everyone, since we were all in the same boat. This sense of group support and connection continued throughout my time there, and even when the program went remote. I also became friends with one of my flatmates! Our classes didn't start until we had already gone home, so unfortunately we never met our professors in person. Online classes were difficult because all online classes are, but the professors were really wonderful about trying to make the experience less stressful. The IES Abroad staff gave us mixed signals about COVID-19, which is understandable given the unprecedented nature of the crisis, but it was incredibly frustrating and stressful for the students. Our on-site staff told us IES would never send us home, but that was not based on any real policy, so when the Chicago office sent us home we had no warning at all. However, staff changes were made after the fact and they let us know by email. Ultimately, I had a really wonderful experience and I miss my time in person with IES. If COVID-19 hadn't happened, it would have been entirely positive. I definitely recommend going abroad with IES!

Being a part of the Language and Area Studies program, I was able to make friends (both American and German) while learning about different aspects of German culture. The administration of the IES office in Freiburg are super helpful and friendly and always there if you need help with something. The classes, although difficult, were informative and the professors interesting and knowledgeable. At the beginning of the semester, there is a lot of orientation but after that there are many things where you are left on your own to do, i.e. groceries, transportation, etc. This allowed me to really get a feel for living on your own in Germany and not just studying abroad there.

IES Abroad Program is very concerned about students' wellbeing both culturally and academically. It is a very well-organized program that offers student great opportunity to gain a global perspective on everything. My German improved a lot and I had a deeper understanding of the cultural. The German and American friends I get to know and the memories I had with them will be the wealth of my life.

I studied spring 2017 in Freiburg, as part of the Language and Area Studies program, and I fell in love with the city and the program. I spent from February to July in the city and had the opportunity to study and do an internship while I was there. The living situation was great for immersion. I lived with 3 native Germans, and then one international student who also knew German, and so the language of the apartment was German. 2 of my roommates did speak proficient English, so if I didn't know a word I had people who knew English, but they understood I wanted to learn German, so they were helpful by speaking German with me. The living situation also was nice because I had kitchen supplies, and bedding already provided. When I said that I fell in love with Freiburg, that is 110% true. I loved the old buildings, along with the nature that was surrounding the city. Being in the middle of the Black Forest with ample amount of places for hiking, along with being an hour from France and Switzerland made it the perfect location for me. The program is also set up well if you have plans to travel. I don't know about the fall semester, but Germany has a lot of holidays in the spring and so we received a lot of days off, which allowed for a lot of travel. We were giving an Easter break, a Pentecost break, and 2 optional trips to Berlin, and Italy, which were also days off. We also did not have Friday classes, and so that provided another opportunity for weekend travel. Well, I had a fantastic time in my study abroad semester and plan on going back.

I entered this program with little knowledge or background as to what to expect during my time abroad, and with IES. It was more fun than I could have imagined. I made life long friendships and incredible memories. Our program leaders were very supportive and helpful in every aspect of our immersion. They made sure that we were comfortable and safe the entire time. They planned excursions for the entire program and there were individual ones for specific classes. Every excursion was exciting and helpful for the curriculum. Our program was 32 students and our classes were together, taught in german but for American students learning german. Our professors were very understanding and supportive of our learning process. The student apartments were very nice, everyone had their own room in a shared apartment with a kitchen and bathroom(s) ranging from 4-6 people total. The city of Freiburg is easily accessible through the trams and buses, making getting anywhere very easy. Travel throughout Europe was also easy. I was happy the entire time that I was abroad and never felt uncomfortable, I was surrounded by people who were equally as thrilled to be there as I was and I learned endless amounts of new unforgettable knowledge.

This is a really good program. By the end of it, I felt that I really knew the area I lived in on both a geographical and personal level. My German undoubtedly improved in leaps and bounds, and I feel that I now have a much better grasp of German culture. The area in which this program truly shines, however, is in helping students to gain cultural fluency. And while I certainly found that fluency helpful in navigating the German academic world and the IES staff approachable and knowledgeable, it is worth noting that students with exceptionally specific areas of study may have trouble finding classes that fit their focuses.

I participated in the full academic year at IES in Freiburg and was pleased with nearly all aspects of the program. The course selection is broad, only limited by the number of students in the program. However, if a course is not offered by IES it is very easy to take it at the University. The IES professors are very engaging, knowledgeable, and cognizant of the students' other cultural backgrounds.The administration was also very competent and helpful in all regards. The full year students have the opportunity to stay in the Alban Stolz Haus, a student dorm in Littenweiler. There are many student-organized activities every week and the dorm seeks to foster great interaction wishing the ASH community. The city of Freiburg is truly a gem of Germany. Situated near France and Switzerland, one has plenty of opportunities to travel. The organized trips by IES to Italy and to Berlin/Hamburg were also very enjoyable. Living in Freiburg for an entire year, one has the chance to truly integrate oneself into the culture and student life. It is a vey vibrant city, always with something to do. I made German friends during the year that I will keep my whole life. The chances to improve fluency are ample, regardless of what level one is starting at. It really was the best year of my life.

I am so glad that I chose to go to Freiburg for my semester abroad. As a German Studies major, it was important for me to be able to immerse myself in the language, and Freiburg was a great place to do that. It has a smaller town feel, but is by no means a tiny town. The city itself is beautiful, especially in the Old Town. There are so many things outside of academics to do and experience around Freiburg. The program is great, and the staff at the IES Abroad Center were both well-qualified and more than willing to help if a problem arose. I really enjoyed all of the classes that I got to take while I was there, especially since the topics were taught from the European perspective instead of the American one. The courses challenged me, and since they were all in German, my language ability improved immensely. I also made some good friends while I was there, and was definitely sad to say goodbye to them. More than anything, I was sad to say goodbye to the city that I had come to love in the four short months that I spent there.

My experience in Freiburg was one of the best 4 month periods of my life. I found the logistics of the Freiburg Study Abroad to be superb, and this little city in southern Germany offers everything. You’re surrounded by the Black Forest and Freiburg is an authentic German town with a lot of energy from the masses of college students. Dorm life was fantastic for me - that’s how I met the most germans and my roommates were very welcoming. All in all a fantastic experience.

Freiburg im Breisgau was an absolutely amazing city for my study abroad experience. The city is extremely vibrant and filled with an immense amount of history and life. It was always easy to find things to do and to move about the city. I personally rented a bike during my first week and used it every day I was there. Almost everyone bikes in Freiburg and there are bike paths present everywhere in the city. I found this to be a great way to get around and explore as it was often much faster than taking the tram and the weather was perfect for biking almost every day. Additionally Freiburg presented me with tons of opportunities to practice my German language skills and as a result I improved A LOT. The locals were extremely nice about the language learning process and were always willing to help you if you had any questions. The rooming situation was also a big help for learning the language because you are placed in a dorm living with native Germans. The classes were also all taught in German and dealt with very interesting and applicable topics. The teachers were also very willing to help at any time and were very good about promoting an environment in the classroom where everyone wanted to speak and participate. I spent lots of time in Freiburg with friends in the beautiful local beer gardens, biking through the city, and hiking through the black forest. This experience is one I wont forget and I recommend it to anyone looking to learn about the German culture and greatly improve their language skills.

I learned so much this semester at IES. Taking all my classes in German sounded like it was going to be impossible but IES professors help you through it. I was glad to be able to take my classes in German without having to go through the University, which for some can seem too daunting. I got an internship over the summer at an organic farm nearby and that helped improve my German tremendously. my roommates are all very nice and though I lived a little farther away than most students, I loved my neighborhood. I got to live right next to the black forest. Would definitely recommend this program for any student looking to improve their German in a medium sized town.

Freiburg is an incredible student town where city and country meet. It's an incredible experience to ride your bike throughout the city and various neighborhoods, marveling at the Black Forest and German architecture. The city itself is quaint with many restaurants, bars, museums, and cinemas. I've been in Freiburg a year and still have so much left to see! But, Freiburg isn't so large that it feels unmanageable. I find that when I am in town, I am almost always bumping into a friend or acquaintance! I have absolutely loved my time abroad studying alongside Germans and other international students. It's been a great opportunity to practice and expand upon my German. The people in Freiburg are so friendly and always supportive of the language learning process (and many mishaps!) which I found so helpful. I enjoyed many visits to the beautiful beer gardens throughout Freiburg as well as many a picnic in the Black Forest. The city itself offers something for everyone's taste, if you're simply willing to explore!

I had a great experience studying abroad in Freiburg im Breisgau with IES! I had a really great experience in all facets. Freiburg itself is a really cool, not-overwhelming town in the Black Forest with lots of culture and things to explore, but also very centrally located for travel in western Europe. This program specifically offered really great, knowledgeable professors whose classes I genuinely enjoyed taking. It was also cool to meet fellow students on my program who were from all over the country and incorporate their perspectives along with German viewpoints into my own worldview, and to experience it changing. The program staff were very nice and helpful and seemed to go out of their way to help and accommodate students. I would highly recommend this program to others!

Coming to Freiburg gave me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, but with a small enough group and city that it was a smooth transition. My experience has introduced me to friends, both within and outside of the program, who will be lifelong friends. The people of Freiburg are exceptionally kind and helpful, especially when you make the effort to practice your German. The program itself has given me the support to feel comfortable living here in Freiburg and the staff here have helped me with things related directly to school work as well as any other questions I have had.

When I first came to Freiburg, I had no idea what to expect. My German hadn't seen much use outside the classroom, this was my first time living abroad, and I knew that I would not know anybody involved in the program. The affair could have gone in a few directions. It ended up being one of the best experiences of my life. The IES Abroad staff created a community of individuals, a whole comprised of students from vastly different academic backgrounds. By providing us with numerous resources (ranging from the helpful "Cool Places to Go" to the essential "What To Do & Where To Go If Anything Bad Should Befall You"), our lovely administrative staff gave us a solid foundation which in turn made us feel more comfortable branching out in our own directions. While feeling always welcomed to attend IES events where I would get to know my fellow students better, I never believed myself put upon by the program, never saw my attendance at said events as being obligatory. In short, as I was getting settled in, IES was there if I ever needed them yet gave me room to pursue my personal plans (i.e. international travel). Freiburg itself is among the most beautiful cities I've ever visited and I plan to return! The people were quite friendly and always willing/able to switch into English if need be. Though there are some labyrinthine parts of the city, the ubiquity of maps allowed for safe navigation while the exemplary public transportation system facilitated my dorm-to-class commute. (One could buy either a bike or a Straßenbahn Semester Ticket for a reasonable amount; having a personal preference for reading/looking out windows while traveling, I chose the Straßenbahn Semester Ticket). The Black Forest is, besides being readily accessible (especially with the Semester Ticket, which at designated time intervals allows one to take regional trains for free), nothing less than utterly absorbing in its beauty. In fact, from the Münster to the numerous art museums, this city was brimming with top-notch aesthetic experiences. All in all, the IES Language/Area Studies Program in Freiburg was so much more than the typical study abroad experience. It was another home - and still is, for me. I look forward to returning to this wonderful city, reminisce about old memories, and make many new ones!

I had an absolutely amazing time in Freiburg. I spent the Fall 2014 semester there, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. While the academics of the program weren’t quite as challenging as those of my home university, I still learned a lot of new things, such as German art history or Germany’s role in the European Union. One of the most important aspects of the program for me was that every class was taught in German. The language intensive at the beginning of the program prepared us well, in my opinion, for the classes to come. My German improved so much during the course of the program, and I became a much more confident writer and speaker. Cultural immersion was another great aspect of the program, and the on-site staff really tried to get us accustomed to Freiburg and its surroundings not long after our arrival. They took us on day trips into places like the Black Forest and the Swiss Alps, as well as taking us on walking tours of Freiburg. The staff there in Freiburg is top-notch. Their office hours covered pretty much the entire day, and they were always ready to help with any problems that came up. Furthermore, they were all extremely nice and were always willing just to talk if a student wanted to. The living situation was also great. I was lucky enough to live in Händelstrasse, a student apartment building that backs up to the edge of the Black Forest. I took advantage of nearby bike and walking trails to go biking to different towns in the area on the weekends. The countryside in Baden-Württemburg is beautiful. My roommates were all German, two girls and one guy, and we all got along very well. We spoke mostly German around the apartment, which also helped with my language skills, as well as my cultural immersion. I also made German friends through playing soccer at the University sports school every week. I still keep in touch with them, and one might even come visit this summer. As far as safety is concerned, Freiburg is a very safe place. I never once felt like I was in danger, even walking back to my dorm late at night. I felt very comfortable with my surroundings, and the people there are nice enough to help someone if they were in trouble. Overall, every aspect of the Freiburg Language and Area Studies program is brilliant. That Fall semester was the best semester of my life, and I hope one day to visit Freiburg again. I would definitely recommend the program to anyone who wants to greatly improve their German and have a great and culturally rewarding time doing it.

Though I had my doubts going into it, I have no regrets about studying abroad. I learned a lot and grew up in ways I never imagined. I've always been independent, but this experience made me feel all the more confident in my ability to be self-reliant. I traveled a ton by train, entirely by myself, and saw so much of the world without worrying about what anyone else wanted me to do. Though it was undeniably stressful, the challenge was more than worth it. I loved feeling like a real adventurer.

I had a really amazing time abroad in Freiburg with IES. I chose a small city on purpose and Freiburg ended up being a great fit because it was small and authentic. There was always something new to do but I also enjoyed traveling during a lot of my weekends. The classes I chose were also conveniently arranged so I could have more time off to travel and explore Europe. My German definitely improved tremendously and I now feel confident to hold a conversation which a local person. I enjoyed all of my classes and really liked all of the teachers and staff. IES was always there for us to help with anything that can go wrong while living in a foreign country. I always felt their support but did choose to live pretty independently. I liked my living situation as well and was very close to the downtown altstadt. Freiburg also has great going out options, though it is not comparable to big city night life. I recommend this program to anyone who is looking for a quiet German town and wants to improve their German through authentic conversation, great classes and fun excursions. Beautiful place, awesome program.