Reviews

I went to Kenya mainly for the clinical experience, but I ended up getting much more out of the program than I expected. I enjoyed being in the hospital every day and getting to know the doctors and other students along the way. There were definitely things that took some getting used to, but that was part of what made the experience so valuable. I also really enjoyed trying the local food. Everything was so fresh and flavorful, and I definitely ate more than I expected to while I was there.

Going to Costa Rica taught me not only how to have an open mind when experiencing other cultures but also how to appreciate and grow within my own. I’m so grateful for the everyone within and outside of worldstrides for helping me.

Before I came here，I already reached HSK4 but I kept hitting a wall. No matter how hard I studied, my level stayed stuck. After studying here for a month now, the progress is amazing. My listening and reading have both improved noticeably. My classmates are warm and friendly. Our whole class bonded closely with our teacher，we became real friends. It was hard saying goodbye to everyone. So I‘ve decided to come back and keep learning Mandarin here. Highly recommended to everyone who is meeting a bottleneck in Mandarin.

I had a great experience learning Chinese with Lily in Beijing. She is a very kind, patient, and professional teacher who always makes me feel comfortable and motivated during our lessons. Her explanations are clear and easy to understand, and she always takes the time to make sure I understand new grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. I really appreciate how she adapts the lessons to my level and encourages me to speak Chinese as much as possible. Thanks to Lily, I feel much more confident when speaking Chinese and I have noticed a real improvement in my communication skills. Her lessons are interesting, engaging, and enjoyable, and I always look forward to the next one. I would definitely recommend Lily to anyone who wants to learn Chinese in Beijing, whether they are a beginner or already have some experience. She is an excellent teacher and I am very happy to have learned Chinese with her! Also wonderful arrangement of immersive school trips, which turn textbook knowledge into vivid real-life experience. On one warm afternoon, our guide organized the school trip to a local old Beijing alley near our learning site. Instead of staying in the classroom, she guided us to walk through the quiet hutongs, communicate with elderly local residents and practice the daily phrases we had learned in class. She carefully prompted us to greet passers-by, ask for directions and talk about daily trivialities, helping us apply our Chinese skills in authentic scenarios. This outdoor study trip was far more impressive than regular classroom learning. It allowed me to feel the charm of spoken Chinese in real interactions and understand the simple, warm daily culture of local Beijingers. I felt that my on-site expressions, colloquial slangs and polite usage that never appear in textbooks, and helped me overcome my nervousness of talking to strangers. Every conversation practice felt fresh and meaningful. This special school trip gave me a precious immersive learning experience and greatly boosted my oral fluency. Thanks to their creative teaching methods, I no longer learn Chinese mechanically. I can truly use it to observe life, communicate with others and feel local culture. Her dedication to combining classroom teaching with outdoor practice makes every learning session worthwhile. I am extremely grateful for their thoughtful guidance and highly recommend her to every Chinese learner! It was a very interesting school trip in this journey to Beijing!

The lessons were right for my level of cinese and i enjoyed studing with my teacher. Remember to learn english before coming in China, and take the opportunity to go visit many turistic attraction. ..................................

I studied Mandarin in LTL Chengdu for around 2 months starting with no prior knowledge of the language. But after my time here studying with Guo Xin Yue in one-on-one lessons, I have built a strong foundation in the language and can now communicate with other Chinese people and experience rapid progress in continuing to learn the language. Another aspect of LTL that I enjoyed was that there was a good balance between studying and also exploring and learning about the area, with people like Ying laoshi, Ilaria, Giulia, and others being responsible. I would recommend LTL for anyone who is interested in learning and immersing themselves in the language.

I had such an amazing experience studying abroad through WorldStrides! I attended the 15 week program in Florence, Italy. Not only did I get to learn more about the Italian language and culture, but I got to see beautiful pieces of art and architecture. The food was another bonus! With WorldStrides, I was able to choose from many different classes, and there were excursions included in my program price!

Looking ahead to my first year out of high school, I knew I wasn’t quite ready to head straight to college, but I was nervous about choosing a path that looked different from everyone else’s. Finding CIEE gave me so much comfort and excitement for what was ahead. From the moment I signed up, they made the process of moving abroad feel organized, welcoming, and safe. Living in Seville gave me the opportunity to truly immerse myself in the Spanish language and culture in a way I never could have from home. Between living with a host family, improving my Spanish, exploring a new city, and meeting some of my closest friends, I gained so much more from the experience than I ever expected. My time in Seville gave me a new sense of independence and confidence, along with friendships and memories I will cherish forever. I couldn’t be happier that I chose CIEE for my gap year!

I looked into arranging a Bali internship myself and it was overwhelming I didn't know where to start with visas, housing, finding a company that would actually take an intern. Island Internship handled all of it. They placed me in a hospitality role in Canggu, set up my accommodation, and supported me the whole way. Clear communication, no surprises, genuinely worth it. If you're a student weighing whether to book a program or go it alone, this took all the risk out of it.

I thoroughly recommend LTL Beijing. The school is very well run, friendly and professional. My teacher, Lilia 老师, was absolutely brilliant: enthusiastic, patient and extremely knowledgeable. If I get the chance I'm definitely going back.

Having the chance to study abroad in Australia was such an amazing experience I will remember forever. I made lots of friends in my program and having my parents visit was truly special. I loved travelling throughout Australia to Melbourne, Tasmania, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, and Byron Bay. Surfing over there was pretty incredible too, and having the opportunity to intern with a local surf school was awesome. I hope to return someday and would definitely consider living there.

From beginning to end, staff was involved and helpful with volunteers and campers; checking up with them with what they needed, how everybody was feeling, and how activities will be run and how they turned out. Different activities were run throughout the week and everybody get to do something different, sometime even out your comfort zone but that's what makes the whole experience a fun and unforgettable one. Everybody has something to teach, making this experience full of stories with amazing people you will share a space with, laugh, share struggles, and feel energized. Definetly the connections that you make is what makes summer camp a lovely one :)

I gave administration a value of 3 because I think you could do a better job of explaining the experience in advance. Nowhere did you explain the project was with Kruger Conservation. I didn't learn that until I arrived and received an orientation by the team at Kruger Conservation. "Kruger Project" is too vague of a description for the actual experience. Also, the Volunteer Encounter description of the project mentioned it was in Ndzalama Game Reserve when we actually stayed in a neighboring property called Worsboom Lodge. It was very confusing upon arrival to learn this, and to get my bearings of where I was located. Having some background/historical information about Kruger Conservation ahead of time would have been helpful. I feel Volunteer Encounter was misleading/misrepresenting Kruger Conservation.

While abroad in Madrid I had the opportunity to visit 5 total cities throughout the country along with 4 additional countries. The Worldstides program made this possible by assisting me in selecting the right courses, plan excursions, and support me on all my European adventures!

Going abroad with WorldStrides was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I had so many opportunities to be immersed in the culture, whether it was through weekend trips, events in the city, or simply exploring Barcelona with friends. There was always something new to experience, and I felt like I was able to learn so much outside of the classroom. One of my favorite parts of the program was the freedom to explore Barcelona and other parts of Spain while still having the support of WorldStrides when I needed it. The staff was helpful throughout my time abroad and made the experience much easier, especially when adjusting to living in a new country. The organized activities and trips were also a great way to see places I probably would not have visited on my own. Living in Barcelona gave me the opportunity to experience a completely different lifestyle and culture. I was able to try new foods, meet new people, practice Spanish, and experience what everyday life is like in Spain. I also loved being able to travel to other cities and countries during my time abroad. Overall, studying abroad in Barcelona was an experience I will never forget. I made some of my best memories, became more independent, and gained a much greater appreciation for other cultures. I would definitely recommend studying abroad with WorldStrides to anyone considering it. It was an amazing experience, and I would do it all over again.

I grew up listening dialect at home but never properly learned standard Mandarin. Their online course platform is straightforward to navigate for homework and reviewing lesson content after class. My teacher is excellent — they understand my background well and tailor lessons for me.Surprisingly, Mandarin feels much easier to learn here than I expected. I can see clear progress every week, and now I’m confident that one day I will truly master the language.

I really liked the teacher and the way the subject was explained. I learned a lot of new words and, at the same time, really enjoyed spending time with my friends. I visited many new places and know that this is a great opportunity. I spoke Chinese with people who didn't speak English, and despite the difficulties, we did our best and managed to understand each other in the end. The other challenge was getting used to the food, which was very different from ours, but over time we managed to adjust. I recommend this experience and think it can be truly beneficial.

we spent about 10 days with Snow, it was a great learning experience, she taught us many things in a way which made learning easy and fun! reall apprecated of the experience in beijing and wish to come to china again!

I had such an amazing experience in this program. I was the only student learning spanish at the time because it was slow season, but everyone at the school made me feel at home. I got to volunteer in the classroom of kids learning english and help with their english as they helped me with my spanish. I was able to sharpen my spanish in 4 weeks, but also learn a lot about the culture of the area.

Studying abroad in Greece was an amazing experience that allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and experience a different culture firsthand. I loved being able to explore different parts of Greece, learn about its history, try new foods, and experience everyday life in a new environment. One of my favorite parts was getting to share the experience with other students and creating memories that I will always have. The trip also helped me become more independent and open-minded. Being in a new country encouraged me to try things I normally wouldn’t and appreciate different perspectives. I would definitely recommend studying abroad to other students because it is an opportunity to learn and grow in ways that you can’t always get from a classroom. If you are considering going, I would encourage you to take lots of pictures, stay open to new experiences, and make the most of every day because the trip goes by very quickly.