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Questioning what it’s prefer to research overseas in Austria? We lately spoke with Hannah, a historical past main and artwork historical past and music double minor from Willamette College, who spent her summer time learning overseas within the picturesque metropolis of Salzburg!
Uncover how Hannah’s research overseas expertise in Salzburg with AIFS Overseas helped her discover the area and enhance her German language abilities!
Selecting a Research Overseas Vacation spot & Time period
In the event you’re nonetheless narrowing down the place to check overseas, the method could really feel overwhelming—particularly with so many wonderful AIFS Overseas locations to select from! One useful strategy to focus your search is to filter applications by tutorial curiosity or language. For Hannah, a vacation spot the place she might observe her German and research European historical past made Salzburg a superb selection:
“I selected Salzburg as a result of I had earlier expertise with German and I used to be within the area. My historic focus in my main is on fashionable European historical past, so I discovered Austria attention-grabbing. I might suggest this program to college students who wish to be centrally positioned to journey to different European locations.”
Whereas many faculty college students relish the chance to spend a complete semester overseas, others, like Hannah, are extra snug with a short-term program:
“I selected summer time time period as a result of I didn’t wish to miss a complete semester at Willamette. I beloved the summer time time period, I didn’t really feel like I used to be lacking something essential as a result of I might have simply been working within the U.S.”
Teachers Overseas
For individuals who desire a supportive tutorial setting overseas that includes site-oriented curricula and unbeatable immersive discovered experiences, learning overseas at an AIFS Overseas International Training Middle (GEC) is the right choice. These tutorial hubs are positioned throughout Europe and supply shut school mentorship and small lessons that assist college students dive deep into the cultural and historic contexts of their program locations. Hear Hannah describe how she preferred her lessons at our GEC in Salzburg:
“I attended lessons at an AIFS Overseas [Global Education Center]. I loved my lessons a lot and I really feel I received loads out of them. Each of my instructors lived regionally and I used to be in a position to be taught a lot from them about our class subjects and likewise town and tradition itself.”
She took two lessons throughout her summer time time period in Salzburg, Austrian People and People Customs and German Language I, which she describes under. In Austrian People and People Customs, college students studied ex voto work, a type of devotional people artwork historically created as choices of thanks or in achievement of a vow. Consider them as visible “thanks” items to a deity for defense or assist.
“We went on a number of subject journeys in Austrian People Artwork and People Customs, which stood out as highlights to me in this system. For instance, we studied many Austrian-made ‘ex voto’ people artwork work, and we had been in a position to go to the people tradition museum the place we received to see lots of the work we’d been learning!”
Hannah additionally shared how her German Language I course and every day life in Salzburg helped strengthen her language abilities:
“My German [language] course was similar to the elementary German programs I’d taken at my residence college. I used to be in a position to choose up the language extra as a result of I used to be dwelling in a German-speaking setting. The construction and tradition of my Austrian People and People Customs was very totally different from any class I’d taken at Willamette. As I discussed, the category was organized round these subject work alternatives, which I discovered very useful to my studying fashion as a pupil. Our class was lecture-based but additionally very conversational, and I felt as if there was a mutual respect between the scholars and the trainer.”
Language Studying
Whilst you’re not required to know one other language or take overseas language programs to check overseas, it’s a superb alternative to be taught a brand new language for those who select to take action. As somebody with some prior German language information, Hannah famous how a lot her proficiency improved over the course of her program:
“I studied overseas in Austria, which is a German-speaking nation. You didn’t have to have German language abilities previous to this system. I used to be taking Elementary German I and my language abilities improved loads over my time there. I used to be in a position to work together with locals principally in German once I was at eating places, grocery shops, espresso outlets, and many others. The recommendation I might give to college students is to simply attempt to converse the language even for those who’re not utterly assured. Locals really feel extra revered for those who put effort into speaking with them and it additionally helps you develop your abilities.”
AIFS Overseas Actions & Excursions
AIFS Overseas applications embrace a spread of social and cultural actions in addition to journeys and excursions designed to complement your expertise overseas. These inclusions assist contributors extra absolutely immerse themselves within the native tradition, discover extra of the area with trusted guides, and have enjoyable—all whereas they bond with fellow contributors. As Hannah explains, they’re experiences you don’t wish to miss out on:
“I attended virtually each tour alternative that AIFS supplied. Two of my favorites had been the Vienna weekend journey and the pastry tasting. Our coordinators scheduled a bunch of cool alternatives on [the] Vienna weekend [trip]. For instance, we received to go to the artwork historical past museum within the metropolis heart, whereas we had been there… We [also] went on an tour to the marionette theater in Salzburg, which was tremendous enjoyable!”
Weekend & Day Journeys
Along with occurring AIFS Overseas journeys and excursions, you’re welcome to discover your host nation and the encircling area throughout your free time. One weekend, Hannah got down to go to Prague with among the new pals she’d made:
“I went to Prague one weekend with 6 or 7 women in my program and it was great!… This was an awesome alternative to discover a distinct space.”
Whereas Salzburg’s location affords easy accessibility to different European nations, Hannah found there’s tons to do exactly outdoors town, as properly:
“It’s helpful for college students to know you could get to virtually anywhere from a bus in Salzburg. My pals and I went to a lake about an hour away from Salzburg a few instances, and it was solely about 12 euros round-trip.
I actually admired how linked Salzburg was with the encircling rural areas. Many individuals that I spoke to (together with my instructors) had a deep appreciation for historic websites in Salzburg in addition to websites positioned additional away from town, just like the Basilica of Maria Plain.”
AIFS Overseas On-Website Help Workers
From our wonderful excursions to our award-winning teachers and housing, there are numerous causes to decide on AIFS Overseas. One of many components that basically makes our applications stand out is our devoted on-site help workers, who’re there to offer in-person help once you want it. Hannah was particularly grateful for her Program Director in Salzburg when she needed to go to the physician:
“Our Program Administrators had been extremely useful whereas I used to be overseas. After I needed to go to the physician whereas overseas, my [Program Director], Katherina, was extremely useful and helped me determine the whole lot out.”
Phrases of Knowledge
When reflecting on her time overseas and pondering recommendation to future college students, Hannah had this to say:
“I actually discovered to step out of shell socially whereas I used to be overseas. I additionally dedicated to saying sure to virtually the whole lot whereas I used to be in Europe and I gained a variety of worthwhile experiences by being open. I’ve tried to hold that mentality again to my life at residence.
Say sure to issues! You’ll achieve so many worthwhile experiences by having an open thoughts. You’ll accomplish that many extra issues and be taught a lot extra about your self. You might kind a significant relationship with somebody you wouldn’t usually be open to. The probabilities are really countless!”
Are you able to take the leap and research overseas like Hannah did in Salzburg? 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 research overseas. Our applications include many worthwhile inclusions (which actually take the stress out of planning!), reminiscent of housing, cultural and social actions, journeys and excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency help, on-site workers, and extra. Whenever you select AIFS Overseas, you’ll take consolation in realizing you’ll have help all through your whole expertise overseas.
