IES Abroad Berlin

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. Every step of the way the wonderful staff of IES Berlin did their best to make everyone's adjustment smooth, make sure the students got to know each other and bond, and answered any and all questions we may have had.

And by every step of the way, I mean really every step! I had contact with them before I left and continue to stay in touch with the Berlin staff: I fell so in love with the city I am now planning everything I can to return with their guidance and help. 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 for everything they've done for us!

Considering that Germany to me, as a Filipino who had never been there before, was almost a mystical, alien otherworld, I came into this program with fairly high expectations to say the least. And considering that, I thought that perhaps these high expectations would have bordered on the unreasonable and would end up not being met. And yet, as cliche as this may sound, it ended up not just meeting my expectations, but exceeding them. Throughout my time in Berlin and other places in Europe (Schengen visas are Godsends), I came to know a land with a rich history, remarkable culture, and beautiful atmosphere. And through IES, it seemed that every single week in this program brought something fun, something valuable, or something that was a mix of both. Whether it was in walking through the German Historical Museum and tracing the slow and steady rise of the Nazis, or in exploring the art and culture of Paris, reading literature that described life with the Berlin Wall, traveling to St. Petersburg to attend a ballet, or going to hear the German Chancellor speak, the opportunities this program brings are nearly endless. And this isn't even limited to the IES and its classes' sanctioned activities. The program also leaves space for independent enterprise. From exploring Prague while riding on a Segway, to hiking in the forests of Helsinki, to taking a boat tour through the fjords of Oslo, all of this and more can be done during the duration of this program. This is an opportunity and program like no other that is certain to showcase all that Berlin (and Europe) has to offer.

My study abroad experience in Berlin, Germany was undoubtably the best four months of my life, to say the least. It not only completely changed my life in various ways, but also made me aware of ignorances I was unaware that I had. I also had the opportunity to improve my German language skills. The IES program and administration was a large part of that life changing experience, being extremely helpful and organized with whatever situation presented itself. The staff was always willing to answer questions, and also pushed us to go out and experience the city, even offering suggestions on what to do or where to go. Berlin has something for everyone, after all. The two group trips that we went on as a program were well planned out, and not only included historical and educational exposures to the cities, but also fun and cultural experiences that made the trips unforgettable. The classes were educational not only from the readings and lectures, but from the discussion that challenged all of us to consider historical and cultural factors that we don't get exposed to in the States. There is an incredible amount of history in Berlin, and to be educated on topics from a different lens was probably one of my favorite parts of the entire program. The professors were also extremely helpful and open to discuss almost any topic, and would even offer personal experiences when appropriate. I also learned more from living in Berlin and taking IES German classes than I ever would have taking a semester in the States. Emersion is definitely the best way to learn! You really can't prepare yourself for the study abroad experience, but having an amazing program like IES behind you to help you along the way definitely makes that uncertainty worth it. I could not be any more grateful for the large roll the program played in changing my life forever. I am already looking forward to going back to Berlin - die beste Stadt!!

While I was studying abroad one of my best experiences was going to the Christmas Markets (Weihnachtsmarkt) in Berlin, Germany. During the Christmas season, everywhere is decorated with Christmas lights and these Christmas Markets. They are very special and always have a warm atmosphere with food, drink, and gifts for Christmas that could only be found there. Going out at night when everything was all lit up and everyone was bundled up to stay warm was one of my favorite experiences while being abroad!

Going to Berlin was an amazing experience! The IES building was located in Mitte (the central district of Berlin) so it was very easy to get around and see the city. I lived in Kreuzberg with an amazing host family who were very helpful and made me feel extremly welcomed in the city. Living in Berlin and being surrounded by so much history made the experience extra special!

The program allowed a lot of flexibility in the scheduling of classes which made travel much easier. I got to travel to so many different cultures and have mazing experiences there as well!

I would recommend this program to anyone! It was life changing!

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 a staff of people who truly care 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.

IES provided many opportunities that really enhanced my experience abroad, but I did have to do quite a bit of work outside of the program to fully benefit from my experience. The 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.

IES provided me with an amazing opportunity to really discover what living abroad is like. Having a great homestay and really helpful staff created one of the greatest experiences of my life. Our program also included week long stays in both Saint Petersburg and Istanbul, 2 cities that are very different interesting and also places I normally wouldn't have visited on my own. Everyone at IES was ready to help whenever it was needed, whether it was a quick response to an email or an opinion from staff members at the center. Having homestays throughout the city encouraged all of us in the program to go out and explore new parts of the city, made even easier by Berlin's great public transportation. Berlin was the ideal place to study abroad in because it's cheap, filled with so much fascinating history, populated with very friendly people and full of really cool museums, bars and clubs. I wouldn't change my experience for anything and I highly recommend taking part in this program!