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Desperate to comply with within the footsteps of a faculty pupil who studied overseas in Austria? We not too long ago caught up with Austin, an info methods and music double main from the College of Arkansas, who spent his summer time finding out overseas in Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart!
Learn on to study extra about Austin’s expertise with AIFS Overseas and what it’s like finding out overseas in Salzburg, Austria.
Selecting a Research Overseas Vacation spot & Time period
With so many thrilling worldwide locations out there with AIFS Overseas, it’s not all the time simple to choose only one! As Austin defined, he had a number of causes for selecting to review overseas in Salzburg:
“Although I’ve a listing of explanation why Salzburg, Austria, was proper for me, I felt a robust pull towards the area’s music tradition, the chance to observe talking German, and its lovely mountainous panorama. Salzburg’s robust public transportation and walkability have been additionally main deciding elements for me. Whether or not I used to be simply commuting to class or heading out with mates to a lake an hour away, the bus was all the time dependable and made touring all through the town a breeze. I might suggest this program to anybody who loves the outside, music, and taking mid-day breaks to get pleasure from a espresso and a pastry in a gorgeous baroque metropolis!”
With examine overseas applications provided in each season, AIFS Overseas contributors can select to go overseas when it’s handy for them—whether or not it’s a full semester or a short-term program like a summer time time period. Because of nice climate and loads of actions through the season, Austin found that summer time is a superb time to review overseas in Austria:
“I selected the four-week summer time time period to review overseas. The local weather on this area is pretty gentle, so the climate allowed for loads of out of doors actions, hikes, and out of doors live shows. Summer time tended to convey folks from throughout, so the town was alive always of the day… There have been festivals/carnivals, out of doors meals markets, and historic automobile races.”
Teachers Overseas
AIFS Overseas World Training Facilities (GECs) are educational hubs positioned around the globe that supply site-oriented curricula with immersive studying experiences and center-based assist. Hear Austin describe his expertise taking programs on the GEC in Salzburg:
“I studied on the AIFS World Training Heart. All my courses have been taught by AIFS school, and my courses have been solely with others in the identical program, so it made it simple to do group initiatives or discover somebody to succeed in out to if I wanted assist… Most of my courses have been small, permitting for simpler dialogue and a greater professor/pupil relationship.”
For somebody studying the German language, finding out in Austria was an superior alternative to observe his talking expertise—in and outdoors the classroom:
“I actually loved the German language course I took, as I used to be in a position to make use of what I used to be studying at school to observe exterior of sophistication. In contrast to in Austria, the place you may instantly observe German exterior of sophistication, within the U.S., it’s not as simple to step out of a German class and use the language in on a regular basis locations like a espresso store. My professor would then encourage us to ask questions in regards to the language originally of every class, the place I might make clear one thing that I heard whereas speaking to an area.”
Language Studying
Though language studying is all the time inspired, you’re not required to know one other language or take any language courses to review overseas. Nevertheless, each program is completely different, so be sure you select the one that matches your language preferences. Whereas Austin did take German courses in Austria, he defined that you possibly can simply get across the nation with simply English:
“Whereas it was helpful to know some (A1 stage) of the German language earlier than touring to Austria, I might say it’s not at all essential to know German prematurely. Many of the college students in my program had not taken any German language courses, however most indicators/menus/essential info have been additionally supplied in English. Austria’s English proficiency could be very excessive, so many locals know the English language, particularly within the youthful technology.”
As Austin found, locals usually respect even small efforts to talk their language, which gave him the boldness to observe German with out worrying about making errors:
“As a result of I did journey realizing a few of the native language, I took benefit of my time there to observe easy interactions at espresso outlets and bakeries, the place I knew the questions prone to be requested and how you can reply. Although I used to be nervous at first, I noticed that the locals appreciated listening to somebody from one other nation even try talking German, so I practiced every time I might! As I acquired extra comfy, it began to really feel pure to reply questions in German, even when in some unspecified time in the future I needed to ask for the interpretation in English.”
Housing
Housing is included in all AIFS Overseas applications—so you may dwell safely and comfortably overseas, irrespective of the place you go. Austin’s dorm in Salzburg was positioned close to the town middle, with loads to do exactly exterior his door:
“Throughout my time overseas, I stayed in a pupil housing constructing close to the middle of city. In my lodging, I stayed with two different roommates and had a communal kitchen the place we might prepare dinner meals. We had a non-public lavatory only for us three, so there was by no means any concern with needing to attend for the toilet. I appreciated the situation…because it was very central to the principle metropolis and inside a brief bus journey of the World Training Heart. The dorm constructing was very shut to varied grocery shops, pharmacies, eating places, and clothes shops, so every little thing I wanted was all the time inside quick strolling distance.”
Making Associates Overseas
Whether or not you go solo like Austin or examine overseas with mates from residence, you’ll have tons of alternatives to make mates throughout your examine overseas program. As he explains, Austin turned shut with a variety of folks in his program:
“As a result of I traveled fully alone, it was essential for me to be open to assembly new mates. I knew these have been the folks I might be spending my time with whereas I used to be overseas, so I made certain to take time to satisfy everybody in this system… I grew to be shut mates with many individuals in my program.”
AIFS Overseas Actions & Excursions
AIFS Overseas applications embrace varied journeys and actions that deepen your understanding of your host nation’s tradition; plus, they’re a terrific alternative to go on guided excursions and weekend journeys, all when you join with fellow contributors. Austin made essentially the most of his time overseas by happening the entire AIFS Overseas excursions and actions:
“I just about attended each single social occasion and tour that was provided by AIFS, which is one thing I might suggest. Most, if not all, have been fully free and gave me entry to excursions, hikes, and journey exterior of the town. Many excursions allowed us to expertise the native tradition, like pastry tasting and apple strudel making, so these have been memorable and allowed us not simply to study in regards to the tradition but additionally to spend time with mates in this system.
Throughout our included tour to Vienna, a gaggle of mates and I deliberate a visit to go see the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra carry out within the gardens of Schönbrunn Palace, the place the orchestra’s once-a-year free summer time evening live performance was being held, which usually attracts over 80,000 folks!”
As Austin talked about, the overwhelming majority of AIFS Overseas journeys and actions are included within the value of this system! Nevertheless, some applications provide different optionally available excursions for an additional charge, as Austin explains:
“The Salzburg program provided one tour for an additional charge, which was a day journey to Innsbruck, Austria. I made a decision to go on this journey since all of the journey and excursions have been included in the fee. This journey was essential to me since I used to be capable of see not only a completely different a part of Austria instantly within the Alpine mountains but additionally discover how the tradition differs from area to area.”
Weekend Journeys
While you’re not at school or having fun with actions or excursions, you’ll nonetheless have loads of free time throughout your examine overseas program to chill out, discover the town by yourself, or take some weekend journeys to journey to different international locations. Since Austria is within the coronary heart of Europe, it makes touring to different international locations, like Italy, very handy:
“Considered one of my most memorable weekend journeys was after I took a practice to Bolzano, Italy, a northern metropolis within the Alps, for a 2-night solo journey. The journey was so gratifying as a result of I used to be capable of go to museums, castles, and check out the native meals on a very unplanned journey. There was one thing so liberating about realizing that I might navigate a very overseas metropolis on my own and have enjoyable doing so.”
Health & Wellness Overseas
Health club lovers can be comfortable to study that you just don’t need to sacrifice your physique to review overseas! Many school campuses provide well-equipped gyms and health facilities that can help you keep (or begin!) a wholesome health routine. Plus, Austin discovered that Salzburg, like many European cities, is extraordinarily walkable, permitting him to remain lively all through the day:, permitting him to remain lively all through the day:
“There was a really well-equipped gymnasium on one of many school campuses in Salzburg, so I used to be often capable of go to the gymnasium two or thrice per week. I walked much more than I often do within the U.S., in order that helped me keep lively as effectively.”
Why AIFS Overseas?
There are numerous causes to decide on AIFS Overseas—our on-site assist employees and inclusive applications that supply housing, journeys, and social and cultural actions (to call only a few!). What actually made AIFS Overseas stand out to Austin is our massive catalogue of program choices that meet a wide range of each private and educational wants:
“I selected AIFS to review overseas due to their big selection of choices in lecturers and journey whereas overseas. It may be overwhelming to decide on a program and site to review overseas since there are such a lot of choices. However with AIFS, I used to be in a position to decide on a location that match my particular wants for an educational program.”
You possibly can’t point out AIFS Overseas with out additionally speaking about our superb on-site assist employees! Who, as Austin explains, have been there as quickly as he arrived at his new residence in Salzburg:
“My most memorable AIFS assist second was after I arrived to start out my program, since that was the half I used to be most nervous about. As quickly as I arrived at my housing lodging, there was an AIFS school member standing exterior able to greet me and stroll me by my time overseas, so I felt comfy proper from the beginning… There was a way of consolation that got here with realizing I used to be in the fitting place, and I used to be starting my time overseas feeling effectively supported.”
Are you able to take the leap and examine overseas like Austin did in Salzburg? We’d love that can assist you begin your journey!
Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to school 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 employees, and extra, you’ll take consolation in realizing you’ll have assist all through your total expertise overseas.
