Grace’s Spring Semester in Berlin

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Desperate to observe within the footsteps of a faculty scholar who studied overseas in Germany? We lately caught up with Grace from the College of Alabama, who did a examine overseas program within the capital metropolis of Berlin throughout the spring semester. 

Uncover how Grace’s expertise with AIFS Overseas helped her advance her language abilities and journey Germany! 

Selecting a Examine Overseas Program Vacation spot 

Need to examine overseas however having issue selecting a vacation spot? Join with our crew—our examine overseas consultants will help you decide the proper program! 

As an Worldwide Research main and a German language minor who has household in Berlin, selecting a examine overseas metropolis was easy for Grace: 

“I’ve household in Germany and Berlin, and AIFS was this system that [my home university] supplied that caught out to me and appeared to have essentially the most advantages. I’d 100% advocate AIFS and Berlin particularly. Town itself is beautiful and of all of the locations I traveled, by far my favourite. Our [Program Director] Nele can be phenomenal, which actually made the expertise that a lot better!” 

Teachers Overseas 

Finding out overseas is a superb alternative to advance your studying in a very new surroundings whereas increasing your world perspective. Beneath, Grace explains her college expertise in Berlin: 

“Freie Universität (FU) is a superb college. It’s ranked effectively internationally and has nice educating workers which can be very educated, and I discovered loads from them! FU has a number of campuses, which have been additionally very cool to go go to and see the completely different vibes in every place.” 

Along with deepening your studying, your programs overseas are a terrific place to fulfill different college students: 

“My lessons have been with a mixture of about 100 American college students. 17 of us have been in AIFS, so I received to work together with them at school and completely different AIFS actions, however I additionally received to fulfill individuals who have been direct enroll and had completely different experiences in this system and life. [By] speaking to them [I realized] AIFS actually spoiled us!” 

Grace took a variety of lessons that contributed to her Worldwide Research main and German language proficiency. Right here’s what she considered her lessons in Berlin: 

“I LOVED my German class, my professor was phenomenal and actually helped increase my information of the language. I additionally actually loved my management class, it was nice to learn the way companies in numerous areas of Europe work and I feel that class relates finest to what I need to do in my profession, so it was very useful!” 

Language Studying 

Some college students select to review overseas partly to advance their international language abilities, whereas others aren’t inquisitive about studying a brand new language. No matter your language choice is, there are wonderful choices awaiting you with AIFS Overseas! 

Grace explains that whereas she had some German language abilities earlier than finding out overseas, proficiency was not required for her program: 

“It helped having a background within the German language, however I had a number of buddies who had by no means discovered German, they usually received by simply fantastic. Most individuals communicate English so if you actually need to speak it received’t be troublesome. No information of German was wanted however they positioned those who had earlier expertise in acceptable lessons to proceed studying. Strive your finest to be taught the language as it’ll assist you to get by, even simply the fundamentals on find out how to order or say easy phrases.” 

Housing 

Housing is included within the worth of all AIFS Overseas applications and choices differ by program. For some applications, we provide upgraded housing choices, as Grace explains: 

“I lived in a shared condo offered by AIFS for an additional payment, nevertheless it was so value it. The condo was within the good location, near the town middle however solely half-hour to campus, the neighborhood was good and I by no means felt threatened or uncomfortable (although most of Berlin is like that since it’s a secure metropolis usually). The roommate placement was good, and I actually created bonds with my roommate!” 

Making Associates Overseas 

When you’re welcome to examine overseas with buddies from residence (the extra the merrier!), setting out by yourself is a improbable option to make new buddies throughout your program, as Grace did: 

“I didn’t know anybody in this system earlier than making use of or arriving. I began out assembly my roommate, after which the women dwelling under us… It was very simple to make buddies. You simply should be good to folks and begin out with small speak and the connections can come fairly simply after that. I met lots of people that I plan on conserving in contact with regardless that all of us dwell removed from one another—the connections have been sturdy!” 

Cultural Appreciation 

Examine and intern overseas applications place you in an thrilling worldwide metropolis the place you’ll be able to actually dive into the native tradition. Hear Grace describe how German (and European tradition on the whole) made a optimistic impression on her life: 

“I actually loved the relaxed weekends that Europeans have on the whole. Germans particularly have very lax Sundays, and usually use it to destress, sip espresso, and revel in walks in nature which I discovered very calming and helped to calm down if the week earlier than was hectic. I’ll positively be doing this within the States; it was actually nice to not should do something besides take pleasure in what’s round you.” 

Beneath, Grace describes her favourite cultural expertise: 

“I feel the Easter markets in Germany have been my favourite cultural expertise. Some have been small, some have been big, however they have been stuffed with handmade objects, trinkets and contemporary produce. Individuals have been at all times laughing and smiling, and it was simply so nice to see folks so blissful and having fun with their area people.” 

AIFS Overseas Excursions 

AIFS Overseas applications embody journeys and excursions that enrich your expertise and mean you can be taught extra about your host nation. Hear Grace element a few of her favourite AIFS Overseas excursions: 

“My favourite exercise was both going to Dresden or the Spreewald forest! Dresden was an in a single day journey and I had a blast getting nearer to folks and having stricter occasions in addition to free time. Spreewald was such a cool expertise and if it’s supplied, it’s a should. The city is cute, and the boat tour was so enjoyable!” 

Remaining Ideas from Grace 

To sum up her examine overseas expertise in Berlin, Grace stated the next: 

“I actually loved AIFS in Berlin and it was really an incredible expertise. The actions, housing, advising, and general assist they gave actually made the change simpler and expertise as a complete higher. I’d 100% advocate to anybody even eager about it.” 

Are you a scholar able to take the leap and examine overseas like Grace did in Berlin with AIFS Overseas? We’d love that will help you begin your journey! 

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty college students examine overseas. Our applications are extremely inclusive, which takes loads of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency assist, on-site workers, and extra, you’ll take consolation in figuring out you’ll have assist all through your total expertise overseas.