the programthe program
CIEE support
The High School Abroad program is the best way for you to become a global citizen and achieve fluency in German. Dr. Frank Sprachen Reisen (DFSR) of Heppenheim carefully selects and screens their volunteer host families. Students will be placed throughout the country. Students will not be able to request to live in a particular area and should have faith that our partner, DFSR, will make the appropriate placement for the student based on the application and profile. Each student will be assigned a local coordinator appointed by DFSR. These local coordinators provide complete supervision and support for the students during their stay.
orientation
Orientation will take place in Boston one day before departure. They consist of a full half day program of information on important topics such as an introduction to your host country, health and safety, tips on how to adjust to a new culture and language, the academic program, and getting to know other high school students going to the same country. The rest of the time is spent on sightseeing in the area, restaurants and evening activities. Students will be met at the airport and housed in hotels with other participants. CIEE staff will stay in the hotel with the students and will accompany them to their overseas check-in. Representatives from our partner organization will meet our students when they arrive in Germany for an onsite orientation and two week intensive language course prior to transferring to the final destination.
placements
DFSR will place students all over the country, rural or urban, depending on the student's application and profile. Recent placements include Essen (North Rhine- Westphalia), Bielefeld (North Rhine- Westphalia), Magdeburg (Saxony- Anhaft), Hamburg (Schleswig-Holstein), Vilsbiburg (Bavaria), Bitterfeld (Saxony). Students will enroll in either a public or private high school and attend classes conducted in German.
CIEE excursions
DFSR will organize group activities during the two week language course, such as local walks, hikes, bowling outings, soccer games, and shopping, as well as longer afternoon/evening trips to surrounding cities including Darmstadt- a modern city of 142,000 people with an active downtown full of shops and cafes, as well as Frankfurt. These activities are not mandatory and will be offered to the students at an additional cost, depending on the activity.
Two excursions are included in the program- one day trip to Heidelberg as well as a River cruise and lunch on the Rhine. The trip to Heidelberg includes a 2 hour guided tour of the city, the Heidelberg Castle, lunch, and approximately 2 hours of free time. The Rhine tour includes the cost of the Cruise, the Rhine Castle tour, and lunch on the cruise boat.
Additional trips throughout the academic year vary and are optional to all students participating in the high school abroad program in Germany.