Filmmaking Study Abroad Programs in South America

I would 100% recommend CIEE study abroad to a friend or peer I had an amazing time and grew so much. The only disclaimer I would give is that it is very structured and feels like a school program (which it is ofc) but if you’re looking for a more independent living abroad experience it could be slightly different than expected

CIEE has very flexible and diverse programs. There are many different times and places students can study. At my university people are often apprehensive to study abroad so flexibly is very helpful and encouraging for short term or long term stays.

Studying abroad has been such a transformative experience for me. When you're in another country, you have no choice but to do your best and overcome any obstacles that come your way. I've discovered a resilience and perseverance within myself on this trip that I would never have realized if I had stayed at home. Of course, the reason I feel brave enough to take risks was because I knew CIEE was behind me every step of the way. With the support of the staff, I knew that I had someone in my corner; I felt emboldened to take risks and put myself out there. I think CIEE is the perfect program for people who want to test their limits and broaden their horizons.

Nous avons vécu une excellente expérience de stage grâce à l’association Mente Argentina. Ils nous ont accompagnés à chaque étape de notre projet : organisation du voyage, aide pour trouver un hôpital afin d’effectuer notre stage infirmier, et soutien tout au long de notre séjour. En plus de l’aspect professionnel, l’association a également organisé plusieurs repas dans différents restaurants de Buenos Aires, ce qui nous a permis de découvrir la culture locale et de rencontrer des habitants. Grâce à leur professionnalisme, leur disponibilité et leur bienveillance, notre expérience a été à la fois enrichissante sur le plan professionnel et humain. Nous recommandons vivement Mente Argentina à toute personne souhaitant réaliser un stage à l’étranger en toute sérénité.

Throughout my travels and study abroad experiences, I can confirm that this was truly the most eye-opening experience I have ever had. The education and research skills acquired through this program are invaluable and one of a kind. And when it came to wildlife, you will truly have some of the best sightings in your life. My group was bless enough to see leopard seals, Emperor and Adelie penguins, and even humpback whales bubble netting! Everything I learned from this trip, from travel skills to group communication to even research structure has all been applied and reapplied to my degree. If you want a once-in-a-lifetime experience with learning skills you will constantly apply, look no further than this program.

Because all of the staff here is extremely kind and helpful, plus the events are all super fun. Especially with CIEE BA as it is a smaller program, it is very personable, and the activities can be modified slightly if needed, which is very considerate and goes above and beyond what is expected.

My study abroad experience through the Antarctica Perspectives Winter Field Trip profoundly deepened my understanding of sustainable leadership and its real-world applications. Witnessing the delicate balance between environmental stewardship and economic goals in one of Earth’s most pristine regions reinforced the importance of long-term thinking and collaboration in addressing global challenges. The program transformed my perspective on sustainability, showing me the vital role of regulations and ethical decision-making in preserving fragile ecosystems. It also strengthened my leadership skills, teaching me to take initiative and contribute effectively, even in unfamiliar contexts. This journey has inspired me to integrate these lessons into my academic and professional pursuits, particularly in international business and foreign policy, while cultivating a lifelong passion for exploration and sustainable development.

My study abroad experience in Antarctica was truly unforgettable, a journey that rejuvenated my soul. Words fail to capture the essence of this extraordinary adventure—otherworldly, incredibly beautiful, and utterly breathtaking.

Taking a part of the Hokies Abroad trip to Antarctica was one of the most unique and exciting experiences I've had the opportunity to be a part of. As an undergraduate student currently studying the conservation sciences, I have had the opportunity to study and work with multiple environments, but Antarctica was like no other. The landscape, animals, climate, and overall environment was so different from anywhere else I have been, and overall contributed to a unique place of study and an amazing abroad experience.

I was going on a semester abroad through out the organisation Mente Argentina in Buenos Aires. Since the beginning I had really good and fluent contact with Mente. They helped me a lot with figuring out my specific situation which I really value and appreciate. The reponses always came quite quick and have been detailed. I arrived with a good feeling in Buenos Aires. Few minutes after my arrival, a worker from Mente showed up and gave me a starter kit, with a Sim Card, a guide and a cash exchange which made my start really easy. For any matters or upcoming problems Mente has been available and fixed them quite quickly. Through the good network of Mente, I quickly made friends and had the opportunity to be part of a language school and my university programm. Mente organised multiple events every week. The events have been quite interesting and were definetly a lot of fun! Since today I am grateful that I met so many people and good friends through Mente. With their helpful and open attitude the people in the Mente Team became good friends as well. I will definetly recommend anybody to benefit from the organisation Mente Argentina, especially if a semester abroad in the city of Buenos Aires sounds interesting :)

I had such an incredible experience with CIEE! Between the program coordinators and instructors, easy application process, and communication, I was very happy with my experience with the program in Spain.

CIEE Buenos Aires is one of the best experiences that I have ever been apart of Martina & Mariano & Carolina provided one heck of an Argentinean experience. They really look out for you with hte best intentions and give you everything you need to be a Porteño. Salute to everyone involved in the planning. I will never forget this journey. I genuinely recommend this program to any and everyone looking to study abroad.

It would not be inaccurate to say that my six months in Buenos Aires were some of the best of my life. A condensed background--I am an Civil Engineering student at the Colorado School of Mines. I work during the semester, run student organizations, and bust my ass with my heavy courses. However, I have always had a heavy interest in economics, history, and literature. Furthermore, I have always wanted to learn Spanish because I thought it would be a helpful tool in the future. I decided to take advantage of my situation by taking a "break" and studying abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. Two issues, however, arose: 1. I had no idea where to go. And 2. I did not speak a word of Spanish. Luckily, I found Mente Argentina. Mente offered me a program where I did not need to speak a word of Spanish beforehand to study in university. The program offered 2 months of Spanish lessons at a small independent school followed by 4 months of the actual semester. Mente can connect you to a broad selection of universities in Buenos Aires. I chose the University of Belgrano, a good-sized private university centered in the beautiful neighborhood of Belgrano. There, I could chose classes from the PEAL/PALAS program. One of which had courses taught in Spanish and the other in English. I took five classes: 2 in Spanish and 3 in English. Despite not knowing a word of Spanish before arriving, I was successfully able to understand (most of) and succeed in the Spanish-taught courses due to the 2 months of Spanish lessons beforehand. However, here arises my only complaint: the courses shown by Mente were *not* the same courses offered by the university. As a result, I had to get a new set of courses approved by my host university. I was unable to get all the credit I wanted too because they didn't offer the high-level course that Mente had advertised. The professors were very friendly and knowledgeable. I personally recommend the "Argentine Economy" course taught by Professor Arguero and the "Political and Social Change" course taught by Professor Gonzalez. Both of these are taught in English. The Spanish school (VOS), was incredible in their job. I met lifelong friends there and made my mark on their wall (if you go there, my handprint is by the staircase and labelled Lucas with a heart in the middle). As I mentioned before, I was able to get to competent level of Spanish to take basic university courses within two months of their 5-day/week Spanish program. The building is beautiful and centered in the stunning neighborhood of Palermo. If you do go to this school, I recommend hitting NOLA: a Cajun fried chicken restaurant that is located a two minute walk away. As for housing, Mente supplied me with an apartment in Palermo. The location was amazing! Five minute walk away from Santa Fe St. 20 minutes away from Plaza Serano. Bus station is outside. Less than 10 minute walk to the subway. It was fairly easy to get a taxi there. There are multiple kisocos and a small supermarket (Dia) directly outside it. There is also plenty of great places to eat around there. The apartment itself was clean with very few issues. I loved hanging out on the long balcony. Mente will circle roommates in and out depending on their program. The roommates I have had became very close friends with me (with the exception of a strange hiccup at the beginning). Mente will host weekly events and invite everyone who is involved in a Mente program. This is where I met my closest friends in Buenos Aires, not at the university. Events include: happy hours (and miniature theatre), restaurants, museums, shows, and more. Samantha and Bea, who work at Mente, are both very friendly and fun to be around. If I ever had any questions or concerns, Mente was fast to address them and make sure I was comfortable there. As for Buenos Aires, it is a magical city. As you live here, you will learn about the history, culture, and areas of the city. I spent most of my time in three neighborhoods: Belgrano, Palermo, and Recoleta. Belgrano is a nice neighborhood home to my university and many grand houses, including embassies of all countries. Palermo is where I lived and is the premiere place to shop and dine (in my opinion). Recoleta is more upscale and touristy, home to many attractions. As for places to see, I recommend: Puerto Madero, the Recoleta Cemetary, El Ateneo "The Grand Splendid", the Colon Theatre, the Obelisk, the Casa Rosada, all the gardens, Tigre, and many others. Take your time to explore Argentina outside of Buenos Aires. I have been to: Mar del Plata, Bariloche, Iguazu Falls, and Salta. I won't go into detail about all of these locations, but know that Argentina is an incredibly diverse (and big) country. Make sure to explore everything that you can! And make sure to explore the rich history, too. Before going to Buenos Aires, I had never lived in a big city or spoke Spanish. Within no time, I had become a proud porteño! Take part in the culture...eat milanesas, asado, dulce de leche, and empanadas. Drink mate and partake in merienda. Learn the phrases (dale, boludo!). Take it easy and take your time. Cheer for River Plate and play some soccer! Altogether, I am very satisfied with my experience. Looking back, it feels too good to have been real. Surely, I will be returning to Buenos Aires, my second home!

My time abroad with IFSA was challenging, but profoundly rewarding, both academically and personally. My IFSA classes in the specialized academic program I chose were tailored beautifully to the program’s theme of human rights, taught wonderfully by local professionals/scholars, and they encouraged very high-level critical thinking. My classes abroad were some of the best I’ve taken in all four years of college. My abroad experience was just as challenging and rewarding personally as it was academically; I learned how to be alone, how to adapt to others’ customs and communication styles, and how to balance being independent with finding community while abroad for a relatively short amount of time. One of the most profound lessons my experience abroad taught me is that saying goodbye to a place can be just as painful as saying goodbye to a person—IFSA helped me develop a personal connection with the city I lived in, which made my time there so incredible, even though it also made leaving extremely difficult.

I studied in Argentina through IFSA between the end of July and the beginning of December in 2019. The program was well-managed, with a strong array of orientation activities to get us acquainted with Buenos Aires and our peers in the program. The ability to take classes through a variety of institutions was a great opportunity, although it was a bit daunting trying to figure out which classes were offered where amidst rather disorganized directories that the universities offered. My host mom was nothing short of perfect, and she helped make my experience abroad exceptional. IFSA organized interesting academic courses of their own, and the excursions they organized were also fun. All of those running the program were very easily approachable for any assistance we needed, and my advisor helped me a lot in getting academically situated.

I absolutely loved my semester abroad in Buenos Aires- I can't imagine a better place to study abroad. The city is incredibly affordable and has something for everyone- beautiful parks, gorgeous architecture, shopping, trendy restaurants, nature and SO MUCH culture. One of my favorite things to do was visit cultural centers throughout the city to listen to live music or comedy and meet locals. Getting around the city was super easy too, with several subway lines and over 100 buses. IFSA's program was incredible. My favorite part was how many academic options there were and how helpful the staff was. I did the Spanish Translation and Linguistics Learning Community since Linguistics is my major, so four of my courses were taught in the IFSA office by professors from the University of Buenos Aires (the best university in Latin America). I loved the small class environment and learned so much about linguistics that has really helped me in my classes back at school. My learning community also involved an internship/field work experience where I worked with local freelance translators. This was immensely helpful in my classes and for learning Spanish in general. IFSA provided us with amazing academic advising and academic tutoring if we needed it. The staff was also very attentive in seeing how we were getting along with our host families and were in touch with our home universities often. In addition to taking classes with IFSA, we were required to take at least one class at a local university which was a great way to become more immersed in Argentine culture. I also chose to do some volunteering while abroad, as IFSA was connected to a few organizations and helped us get involved. I volunteered at a local elementary school teaching English, which helped me see if I liked working with kids and helped me feel like I was actually contributing positively to my host country. All in all, I had a fantastic time abroad. From nightly dinners with my host family to exploring the city and being challenged in my classes, internship and volunteering, every day in Argentina was a blast and I truly grew both professionally and personally.

I would definitely recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend! The amount of excursions planned by CIEE to explore the city has been the greatest component in my experience in Argentina. The tour guides have been helpful in learning about the culture and history of Argentina. In addition, each of the courses taken has excursions that add to the course content and provide an element of learning outside of the classroom. For a first time traveler, CIEE has made the transition​ to learning a new culture fun.

There are many reasons why I would recommend CIEE to a friend or peer. The ability to study at multiple locations, the possibility of earning many credits throughout the 3 blocks, the study tours, the activities/events included in the program. These are only a few of the many reasons why I would recommend CIEE.

I think that this program is great. The staff have been wonderful and the classes are truly rewarding. I actually have relationships with the staff and am learning in different ways, but at the same time I get to learn a lot about the city/country and the culture here!

I would recommend CIEE because the classes are very interesting and some even help with the culture shock that you experience. The staff is so helpful and meeting new people from different parts of the United States and the world is awesome