Top Ten Ways to Feel Like You’ve Experienced England in One Semester or Less 

1. London

 No study abroad trip to England is complete without a trip to London. Whether you’re staying in London or elsewhere, the transportation system into and out of the city is top-notch - making it possible for any study abroad student to navigate. England is somewhat less accessible in other regions. Explore London’s West End, from Picadilly Circus and Oxford Street all the way to the Southbank, where Shakespeare’s Globe Theater and Southward Cathedral stand. London’s walking tours are top-notch - especially through the Tower and crooked medieval streets.

 2. The Lakes

The Lakes District, including the famous town of York, is one of England’s most beautiful destinations. Many study abroad students spend their break in England hiking through the Lakes. Along the hiking trails, small huts have been established to house the walkers overnight before they continue one. From the Lakes District Latitude, hikers can walk from one side of England to the other generally in about three weeks.

 3. Cottswalds

The Cottswalds are small towns that are distinct because of their sand-color homes and well-manicured gardens. Study abroad students enjoy visiting the Cottswalds because they are some of England’s most old-fashioned homes and towns. Stratford Upon Avon, Shakespeare’s hometown, is also famous for its Cottswald-style homes, two of which Shakespeare himself occupied.  4. Stonehenge

Stonehenge is located only about an hour drive away from the Cottswalds. The popular icon of English mystery is a popular destination for study abroad participants in England. The structure lays amid fields dotted with burial grounds, making it the scene of much mystery and excavation.

 5. The Coast

England’s coast offers a relaxing retreat for college students on study abroad programs. In fact, many programs arrange for students to spend a weekend away from their natural surroundings and on the coast. Torquay is one of England’s more famous coastal towns. The rocky beaches and swift winds make it a destination not for sun-bathers, but for walkers and sailors.

 6. Liverpool

Liverpool is located about 1.5 hours south of London. As the home of the Beatles and the world-famous Liverpool soccer team, the city draws study abroad students from several cultural backgrounds. Liverpool is also famous for its pubs and party scene - making it a worry-spot for study abroad advisors keeping an eye on their students in England. 7. Birmingham

Birmingham lies to the far northern part of England very near Scotland. because of its proximity to Scotland, many Birmingham residents have a thick and barely understandable accent. Most study abroad students don’t find cause to travel to Birmingham, but those that do, discover one of England’s most notable working class cities, famous for community pride and defensive aggression.

 8. Bath

Bath is home to the famous Roman Baths, which occupy several buildings above ground and underground. The intricate tiling awes and amazes study abroad students who can appreciate the technology that was (or was not) available at the time of its construction. Most study abroad students choose to stay in one of the many charming bed and breakfasts during their stay in Bath. 9. Hastings

Hastings is the site of the famous Battle of Hastings n 1066 in which France invaded England and continued through the country to establish the Lakes District. Study abroad students can bare witness to one of the frequent battle reenactments and walk around the town fairs, in which battle-feigns display their medieval wares for sale. 

10. Warwick

Warwick is home to one of England’s most prized castles. Warwick Castle is world-famous for his well-kept and lavishly landscaped gardens, including a consortium. The castle itself is said to be haunted and study abroad students can visit the torture chamber for a look into England’s most devilish historic past-time.

I studied abroad in Germany in July of my junior year in college through a nearby college in my town  Valdosta State University. For 20 days, I lived in a small village called Schwadisch Gmund, which is located in southern Germany right at the bottom of the lovely Alps.  

During my study abroad summer in Germany, I had the opportunity to travel to nearby towns and places all over German, such as Tubingne, Stuttgard and Heidelberg. I was also able to travel to other cities after my study abroad program in Germany, such as Munich, Berlin, and Zurich (in Switzerland).  

The study abroad program to Germany focused largely on business and finance, which is my major and all of my credits transferred back to my school (12 total credits.) 

Many people asked me how I did studing in a town as small as Schwabisch Gmund. I found that there was tons of things to do there. I love the outdoors, so I took many hikes with my host family into the Alps. We ate out in authentic, small, family own German restaurants several times a week with other students from my  study abroad  program . We went on plenty of field trips to art museums, cultural spots . I actually found that the five weeks I spent there flew by and I didn’t really think that I did enough! 

For students interested in studying abroad in Germany, I would advise living with a German family. You will learn some fun German customs and really have a chance to practice the language. If you go and just want to learn German, you will also be able to speak the language in half of Switzerland (the eastern half) and you will be able to understand many Slavic languages, such as Hungarian, a little bit.  

My favorite vacation while I was in Germany was my trip to Bern. Some other study abroad students and I rented a car and drove over the beautiful Alps into Switzerland. We didn’t even need a passport to skip countries! We went to the Bern zoo and saw bears and also got to see where Einstein lived. The streets had lots of lines for streetcars and it made me think about how far we have come with technology. 

I hope to go back to Germany soon and will never forget my study abroad experience there or my German family. 

Finding a foreign language study abroad program is not that hard; it’s as simple as doing a quick Internet search and compiling lists of your options. The tricky part of finding the language study abroad program that’s right for your needs. We’ve been there and have come back to offer you a few tips to help you ensure that you enroll in the program that helps you maximize your time abroad. 

1. If you’re a foreign language major, than enrolling in a language study abroad is certainly a strategic way to help you realize your goal of becoming proficient or fluent in a foreign language. When selecting your program, make sure that it has the right foreign language density for you. Many foreign language study abroad programs are, surprisingly, taught in English, with only one or two courses taught in the language of study.  

2. Credits. If you’re a college student who desires to learn a foreign language but is not a foreign language major, then studying abroad is certainly a helpful means to that end, but it might require some strategic course-load stacking, as many colleges and universities are picky about which credits they will accept towards a degree. Make sure that you have enough credits saved for general education requirements so that you can still fill up your at-home schedule with courses towards your major.  

You might also be able to count your study abroad credits towards your major, even if you’re not majoring in a language. For example, if you’re a history major but want to study Italian, you might be able to count some of your credits abroad towards your history major if you take a history course or two. 

3. Keep in mind that if you enroll in a language program with American students, you’re more likely to spend most of your time speaking English than if you enroll in an independent course through an independent company or a local university. There are many fine study abroad opportunities through American universities and colleges, but the majority of them specialize in the country and culture and de-emphasize the language immersion among the students. Look into some independent study abroad language courses through programs such as IES or even through universities in your country of choice for more language intensive options. 

4. Different countries might speak the same language as their native tongue, but especially if you are going to be a translator, learning a particular dialect might be important. Assess your career goals and do some research into particular dialects. For example, French-Canadians and Parisian French speak vastly different dialects and have different language nuances. Likewise, Parisian French speakers and Souther French speakers have a strong difference in their accents. Most languages follow in the similar pattern, so if you’re a serious foreign language student, it’s important that you understand the accent differences before you commit to studying in a particular country or region. 

Now that you have a few tips to think about when researching your foreign language study abroad program, get out there and find some options that work for you. Remember: The more you put yourself in situations that force you to communicate in the foreign language, the quicker you will become with your skills. Good luck!

If you’re a new French study abroad college gearing up for a semester or year with a bunch of college students in Paris, get ready for an experience you won’t want to leave behind!

Paris has earned its reputation as the city of lights not only because the architecture of the French capitol city is backlit each night to illuminate the meticulous sculpture work, but because the city is thus never dark. You and your fellow study abroad students will surely take advantage of you college study abroad experience in Paris as an opportunity to spend late nights on the town and early mornings taking the metro home. Consider it your role and job to ensure that you take advantage of all that the study abroad experience has to offer, while also learning French, exploring all parts of Paris and, when there’s time, studying. You’re gearing up for a busy semester in Paris!

Here are a few tried-and-true tips that all college French study abroad students spending time in Paris can take advantage of to help you get in tune with the city and culture:

1. To help yourself get acquainted with Paris when you first arrive, check out this afternoon outing: Paris is a city that adeptly combines elements of new with deeply-rooted history. Take a walk from one end of the Champs-Elysees to the other and compose a journal entry - en francais - about you experience. You can begin by taking the Metro to La Defense. Explore the contemporary architecture and commercial feel. As you head towards L’Etoile and the Louvre, you will walk across a busy highway, past the park and through a not-so-upscale section of Paris. Finally, will arrive at la Carree in the center of the Louvre, surrounded by half-millenium-old architecture. Paris, more than any other study abroad destination, is rich in architecture, history and style. This walk will help you appreciate the changes that occurred in the city over centuries and will offer a glimpse at Paris’s future.

2. Head out for a typically French study abroad weekend sojourn to Versailles. The town of Versailles sits about 30 minutes East of Paris along the RER. While the town itself is small and unassuming, you and your fellow study abroad students will find the contrast between the small town and the big city of Paris a relaxing change about halfway into your study abroad experience. Of course, all college students studying French will have learned about the famous chateau called Versailles, where Louis XIV spent his days riding horseback and wondering the delicately manicured gardens.

3. Many Paris study abroad students also enjoy taking part in a weekend camping and hiking trip to Fontainbleau, the famous forest to the southwest of Paris. Like Versailles, visitors can also take the RER train for about an hour to the wooded location. You and your fellow French study abroad students will have an opportunity to spend time away from the fashion-conscious and fast-paced city of Paris and can practice your French amongst yourselves along the trails. Many college study abroad students also find the Fontainbleau trip useful as a retreat towards the end of the study abroad trip, as it offers them an opportunity to bond with one another before returning home. If you have time in your schedule for an end-of-semester retreat, why not head south?.

Now that you have a few tips for some fun outings, enjoy your time in Paris. Take as many pictures as you can bare, keep a journal and be sure to make time for yourself. Most of all - don’t forget: you’re studying in Paris!

My Study Abroad Trip to Poland

by Joan K.

I went to Poland, of all places, for my study abroad experience in college. It was not my intention to ever go to Poland, but the study abroad program at my college is very competitive and I did not get my application in in time to go to London. I didn’t speak a foreign language, especially Polish, so I was really nervous about studying abroad in Poland, but I knew that I would not be happy if I graduated from college without actually doing a study abroad program.  My school’s program in Poland is in Warsaw. I was assigned to live with a Polish family that, thank goodness, spoke fluent English. I had a mom, dad and brother to look out for me while I was over there.  I’m a history major, so it actually turns out that studying abroad in Poland, especially Warsaw, was a valuable thing for me to do in college, not only for the experience of living abroad, but also for the in-depth look at the culture and history of a war-torn city and it’s