IES Abroad Nantes

Studying abroad in Nantes with IES Abroad was nothing short of a life-altering adventure, an experience that has profoundly impacted my personal and academic growth. From the moment I set foot in this picturesque French city until my bittersweet farewell, IES Abroad orchestrated a study abroad program that was both intellectually stimulating and culturally enriching.

Academic Excellence (5/5):
The academic facet of the program in Nantes exceeded my expectations. The curriculum seamlessly interwove the French language and culture, enabling us to not only master the language but also deeply understand the local way of life. The professors demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our success, ensuring that we were intellectually challenged and engaged throughout our studies.

Cultural Immersion (5/5):
Residing with a host family was undoubtedly one of the program's highlights. It granted me a unique opportunity to interact with Nantais locals, refine my French language skills, and gain profound insights into the fabric of French culture. IES Abroad thoughtfully organized cultural excursions and activities that allowed us to explore Nantes and the surrounding regions, providing us with an authentic taste of France's rich heritage.

Supportive Staff (5/5):
The dedicated IES Abroad staff in Nantes were our pillars of support throughout our journey. From guiding us through administrative processes to offering invaluable advice on adjusting to a new environment, they demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our well-being. Their warm and caring approach fostered a sense of belonging within our diverse student community.

Safe and Inclusive Environment (5/5):
Nantes proved to be a safe and welcoming city, known for its amicable residents and secure surroundings. IES Abroad took additional measures to enhance our security, ensuring that we could focus on our studies and exploration without concerns. The program's dedication to inclusivity created an environment where diversity was celebrated, and all students felt valued and respected.

Life-altering Experience (5/5):
My time in Nantes with IES Abroad has indelibly changed me. Beyond linguistic proficiency, I gained a global perspective, forged lasting bonds with locals and fellow students, and underwent significant personal growth. The memories and lessons from this transformative journey will forever shape my life.

In conclusion, the opportunity to study abroad in Nantes with IES Abroad was truly a dream come true. I wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone seeking to discover France, deepen their language skills, and embark on a voyage of self-discovery. It is an experience that not only enriches your academic and cultural horizons but also leaves an indelible mark on your personal growth. My heartfelt gratitude to IES Abroad for crafting an unforgettable study abroad experience in Nantes!

Studying abroad was one of the best experiences I could've had. Every day I noticed personal growth and confidence within myself and I am proud that I went on this journey fully by myself. After studying abroad I realized how much growth I made academically and personally. Any problem or question I had on the program was answered by the IES staff and was taken seriously. I was also supported by my peers and IES staff who I will remember forever. The relationships I made on this trip, the personal growth, and immersive experience has positively affected me forever!

This was the best decision I made in college. IES Abroad, and specifically this location, Nantes, France gave me the chance to meet so many amazing people, including the professors, my host family, and other locals. The town is big enough that you can find pretty much anything you need, but small enough to get to practice your French on a daily basis with locals. People are very welcoming of you, especially the staff and your host family for this program. I can't say enough good things about it.

If you're looking for a French immersion program, look no further than IES Nantes. Aside from the program itself, the city of Nantes is perfect for college students who want to practice their French. It is decent-sized city with tons of restaurants, bars, cool events, and things to do, but it's also not overwhelming and is very easy to navigate. It also has a solid airport that makes it easy and relatively cheap to travel throughout France and Europe. It's also not very touristy, so there are plenty of opportunities to speak French with locals. I found that locals were very willing to practice with me and my friends, and we were also able to make friends with French and international students. The program is AMAZING. All of the staff at IES work so hard to make this an amazing experience for us. They are some of the nicest people I've ever met and will help you with every problem (even problems as crazy as the impending coronavirus!!). The social activities and travel opportunities provided by the program are so varied--we went to the Loire Valley castles, Normandy, and Mont Saint Michel/ Saint Malo in the two months that I was there. I appreciated that we could take classes both at IES and the local university. The IES classes were so interesting--take gastronomy if you want to try amazing new food and drink each week! The staff help you take pretty much any class you'd want at the university, and I even knew people who took STEM classes there. At the university, I highly recommend the translation class. The professor knows IES well and loves working with IES students, and it's a great way to learn some new vocabulary. IES also recognizes that you are not just here for your studies, so the workload isn't overwhelming. If you work steadily, you'll have plenty of time to take advantage of the city and Europe! IES's homestay program also makes this program so strong. My host family was so welcoming and wonderful, and most of the homestays are located within easy access to everything--I was about a 20-minute walk away and lived right next to the main cathedral. You'll leave with a second family.

These were some of the best two months of my life. I wish they weren't cut short by the coronavirus, and I wish I could go back, but I learned so much during my time in France. And I definitely came back more confident in my French. Don't be intimidated about the immersive side of this program--you are required to speak French when at IES and during IES activities, but you'll be glad for it. There were people of all levels in my program, and everyone improved significantly over the semester. Come to Nantes!!

An amazing program that exceeded all of my expectations! I managed to develop my French exponentially through all the field trips, supportive faculty and program directors, interactions with my host family, social outings coordinated by the program and more! I also loved the course offerings and how easy it was to take courses at the university and adapting to a foreign education system. Overall, I managed to make a lot of new friends who I am still in contact with, learn a lot about French culture and create unforgettable memories!

I chose this program to improve my French comprehension and speaking skills, but I left with some of the best memories of my life! I was able to speak French every day with my host family, my French and American friends, and the amazing staff. I took classes at the local university which offered a unique view of everyday life. There were a lot of nice restaurants and creperies to eat in and a lot of them offered great deals for students. When I wasn't working Nantes had a lot of things to do, including museums, the chateau, shops, the Machines-de-Ile, and much more! Overall one of the most awesome adventures I've ever been on!

I can't speak highly enough of the program here. IES is a great organization to study abroad with and Nantes, specifically, is an awesome city to be in. These factors combined, it was a fantastic semester. IES provides a lot of assistance with the Visa process, homestay situation, picking classes, and taking trips around Nantes (such as wineries and castles). Nantes itself is a really cute city-- it has a hidden culture of music and art, and is teeming with young people, thanks to the University of Nantes network.

I took four classes at the IES abroad center (so with other Americans in the program), one class at the University of Nantes, and one class at the local Fine Arts school. My IES classes were my favorite, because some were just four people, and never more than 15. The professors are all native French speakers from the Nantes region who are passionate about what they teach and want to bring you out into the community. For example, in my Art History class, we took a field trip to a covered mall (Passage Pommeraye) downtown to study the architecture, and in my Sociology class we sat in on a public trial. All these courses were in French, which is the aspect I was most worried about prior to the program, but which ended up being very positive. When I arrived at IES I quickly realized that people in the program have many different levels of French, which is great. There is a place for everyone, whether you're near-fluent or have only taken a few French classes.

I was pushed out of my comfort zone, but the program had very supportive staff and many resources available if you need any guidance. I liked that the program had planned group outings and activities to do every week from paddle boarding to karaoke night, so there were always opportunities to meet new people and make more connections. All my classes were in French and I only spoke French with my host family, and that challenge made me grow immensely in my language speaking and comprehension skills, as well as my understanding of the French culture. I absolutely loved my host family- they were so accommodating, amazing cooks, hilarious, and really made me feel included and supported. The IES classes are more catered towards study-abroad students so there is more support to succeed in them. The university classes are a little tougher but doable- I would say that taking it with someone was helpful for me. The IES gastronomy class is a must take in my opinion- interesting, great field trips, and you try loads of new foods!