AIFS Abroad: Study Abroad in Germany

This is such a great program because you really get out what you put into it. As a student who was studying German, I was able to take rigorous courses and improve my German language and grammar skills. I really enjoyed the professors and classmates I had from Humboldt and can really see an improvement in my German comprehension. I would recommend this program to anyone who is looking for a little less structure! I really appreciated the freedom to travel on my own and make my own plans, but also join in on the group events when I wanted to.

This was one of the best opportunities I have ever participated in. I was a bit nervous because it was my first time traveling abroad alone, but since I opted into AIFS booking my travel, the AIFS program did a super job coordinating everything. The orientation set up expectations and helped me get over my second anxiety, public transport. Getting around independently becomes a breeze once it is explained to you and they give you the resources.

The class I took while I was there was very engaging, and the teacher took a real interest in our interests and learning. She wanted to make sure we had the best opportunity in Berlin while getting the most out of our learning experience.

Berlin was great! I really enjoyed how welcoming the staff were and how engaging the classes were. I participated in two classes during my time at Humboldt Universität. I took a German language course and an Economic Urban Development course. The professors were very engaging and directions for completing in-class tasks/assignments were crystal clear. In addition, the excursions planned by AIFS were entertaining, engaging, and very informative! I would definitely recommend! One more thing, please check the restroom and shower to make sure everything is in good condition. My shower drain was clogged and it would result in water oozing towards the kitchen area. Nonetheless, AIFS fixed this problem and the rest of the program was great!

Berlin is a really wonderful city to be living in, there is lots to do and experience even if you don't speak German . The Program though AIFs offers very nice structured activities but also gives you plenty of time and space to do your own thing and travel around both Berlin and Europe. The AIFs staff was very supportive. I didn't particularly enjoy my academic experience at Humboldt, there were a few good classes and few really awful ones, and if I was given the chance I would probably pick the Freie Universität program

Being a student who has been out of the country three times before turning the age of one, I have always had a passion to see what’s beyond The United States and gather insight into how people differ across various cultures. Upon entering Berlin, Germany for the Fall Semester, my greatest concern was window shopping for the right affiliate program to study with so I could have a rewarding three-and-a-half-month experience. After researching the various study abroad programs to choose from both at fairs and online, I confidently landed my decision with AIFS. I weighed my benefits based on price, included itineraries, housing options, and location. The program clearly matched my budget while including various social events, trips, and activities for us to engage in right in the heart of Europe.
AIFS provided our flight package with a 2-day layover in London, England where we connected with other AIFS members and got familiar with each other before beginning the semester. We were given time to explore the city with our new friends and participate with the program on a double deck bus tour to the London Eye, Big Ben, and Buckingham palace. The architecture was incredible, but don’t forget to bring your rain jacket! London was a great opportunity to ease the crazed emotions of culture shock upon entering a new country for the first time and familiarize ourselves with the transformation.
Upon entering Berlin, I chose to live with a homestay family as I had four years’ language experience and hoped to widen my perspective on the German culture even further. Through the duration of the semester, the homestay option was very challenging as I had expected. With every day came a new lesson learned as I practiced my German speaking with my 11-year-old homestay sister. She did not speak any English but was currently learning, and I had been very rusty with my German, so we began to teach each other. It is important to understand the cultural norms when entering a new country to not offend locals around you. In Germany, we would have breakfast at 7 A.M every morning which would consist of a baguette and an apple. Lunch was typically the largest meal of the day and dinner occurred later in the evening with soup or pasta and yogurt for dessert. AIFS did an excellent job in placing students in the right homestays, but if one goes abroad, they are expected to try new dishes and be open to a difference in cuisine.
Many students’ greatest concerns are the academic aspects of managing homework while traveling the world. With AIFS, we were enrolled in three classes with two of choice and one for learning the German language. These courses were difficult, but they assigned little homework and dedicated their time towards teaching you through valuable lessons and given paper assignments. I never felt that I was behind on my homework while traveling and I found these classes to be very interesting because they pertained to Germany. Although we were enrolled at an off-site campus of the main city campus, but we were still immersed into German culture through the variety of clubs and sports they offered during the semester.
With one of the most central locations in Europe, it’s easy and cheap to travel all around the continent. I was given the opportunity with AIFS to attend a two-week academic excursion to both Belgium and The Netherlands where accommodation and most meals were provided. We also traveled with them to smaller cities in Germany and to the Baltic Sea to learn about more of Germany’s history. When I wasn’t on a weekend academic trip, I was traveling with friends or solo to various countries surrounding Germany. I will never forget the döner kebab in Berlin, the white sausage in Münich, or the Glühwein in Dresden. These recipes are one’s that cannot be forgotten when visiting these hidden treasures, and AIFS makes sure of it.
Many students do not choose to go abroad or feel they aren’t given the opportunity to do so, but through AIFS, I experienced the academic trip of a lifetime. I feel much more knowledgeable in current news and connecting with European citizens. This was a chance to become independent and explore myself without the pressured guidance of friends back home. With the endless cuisine to sample, the multitude of museums to take in, the various ways of ordering a coffee, and an appreciation for the cultural norms that surround each city, I discovered a better version of myself and I want to spread that knowledge to others. There is limited free time to travel the world and a lifetime to work and regret a valuable opportunity. AIFS provided me with positive takeaways and after studying with them for a January term in both Ecuador and Spain as well, I can guarantee that this program is worth every dollar and will succeed in your ambitions to make this trip memorable.

Last fall I had a fantastic opportunity to study abroad in Berlin, Germany with AIFS. The experience that I had with AIFS is incredible. The program that I was doing in Berlin had all-inclusive with several field trips and excursions. I was able to attend multiple soccer games in Olympiastadion Berlin and even visit the Baltic Sea. I would recommend studying abroad with AIFS. AIFS makes it easy for students to access a lot of resources inside the country.

I studied in Berlin with AIFS in January of 2016, and my experience there has stayed with me in the year since my return. From adjusting to living like a German local to taking classes at one of the city's best schools, I really felt as though I could balance acting like a tourist and behaving like someone who lives in the city full time. The staff I encountered both through AIFS and at Humboldt University were enthusiastic and consistently helpful, and although I often opted to travel independently based on my own schedule, I always felt as though I could ask for support if I needed it. I also appreciated AIFS's all-inclusive fee--paying one price upfront included perks such as a transportation pass and a meal plan, and for an additional fee the program would even plan your travel. Having that support while you're adjusting to spending time in a new country is something that was incredibly useful, and I appreciate AIFS's willingness to help you as much or as little as you'd like.

This program was perfect for me. It was four weeks in the summer of 2014 when I went, and it was perfect because that didn't interfere with any of my classes during the year. The class that I took was called "Land in the City, Green in the City," and it explored all the ways that Berlin incorporates plants, trees and other greenery into the city. We spent maybe one day a week actually in class and the rest was spent exploring the various forests, parks, rooftop gardens, university greenhouses, and buildings with greenery inside or on the outside of the building. The rest of the time was spent exploring the city and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. I wouldn't have had so many delicious meals if I hadn't pushed myself. We also had excursions planned for three of the four weekends. We went to Potsdam, Dresden, and Prague in the Czech Republic. Our director was also super helpful with planning any additional trips, or even just to find the best food around. Leaving Berlin was just as hard as leaving my hometown to go to Berlin. More than anything, I feel like I left a piece of my heart there and I want to go back and visit very soon.