Europe -- many lands and cultures

       … all within reach.  While most of the countries in western Europe have joined together to form the European Union, each individual country still retains its own unique culture and traditions.  iE-USA and its European counterpart iE-ev have local coordinators throughout Europe, in Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, the Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, and Austria.  We are continuously adding more countries to our “Global Classroom,” so if there are other European countries you’d like to visit, just ask!

What’s Europe like these days?

                Thanks to television, movies and the internet, modern Europe is as up to date as any place you will find in the United States.  When you visit there, you will see all the familiar names;  Gap®, Tommy Hilfiger®, Nike®, Adidas®, Guess®, Burger King®, McDonalds®, KFC®, and Pizza Hut®, to name a few.  In spite of this “Americanization,” each country in Europe has retained its own unique culture and way of life, blending it skillfully with their favorite American styles and language.  You’ll still get the experience the traditional German punctuality, the Spanish siesta, the French love of slow dining and the Swiss respect for individuality.

What language will I need to know?

                Each European country has its own native language, but since everyone is required to study English in school, most everyone has a basic knowledge and can communicate with tourists and travelers.  Of course, if you are going to participate in a school-year program, you’ll need a certain level of proficiency in order to be successful.  Students wishing to study in Europe will need a language ability evaluation from a language teacher.  There’s no better way to improve your command of a foreign language than to “live” it every day for several months.

What are the schools like?

                The European school systems vary slightly by country, but most have secondary schools that are similar to the American high school … with just enough differences to make a year abroad a truly cross-cultural experience. 

                While some countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands, have a tiered system of secondary schools, including schools whose students are preparing to study at university, every country we work with has public and private schools that will be suitable for American students looking for a great study experience.  Once we know which country you are interested in, we can give you more detailed information about the individual school choices available to you.

                Our local community coordinators in each country match each student with an appropriate school and host family.  That coordinator is available to each student, family and school for continuous support throughout the year.