Kulturwerke Deutschland Sprachreisen GmbH

I am currently for 4 months in Nova Scotia, Canada, so at the maritime
east coast. More precisely on Cape Breton Island. And what can I say, trust the process
and be open! Because even though I wouldn't have chosen Cape Breton from the very beginning
in the first place, I am incredibly happy to be here! :) Mostly because of the great
people I have met here. I have made so many friends here
both with Canadians and with other exchange students.
exchange students. There are even visits planned! Even though it takes
exchange students it started after 2 or 3 months because I am not at the same school with any of them.
with any of them at the same school. So tip: Connect with people on social media :) With
those at my school I understand each other, but we are not really friends,
which is okay. Other great people are my host family. They are really nice and
and you can see that they like to do it and that they take good care of me and my host sister
from France. They let us have freedom and also like to drive us, which is super
practical and for which we are really grateful. Spoiled ups ;) The school here is quite okay,
I find it a bit easier and partly boring, but I don't hate it haha. I
think it's good here that you only have 4 subjects, but then more intensive every day. In
Germany you have to concentrate on 10 or so at the same time and all the content
feel so rushed, whereas here you take more time. On the subject of supervision
I have to praise Kulturwerke. It is nice that there are monthly feedback
conversations, but you can also get in touch with them in between. I have been
helped with the extension as well as with visas etc. :) One is in Nova Scotia here
with the NSISP, the International Student Program. They always organize events for
for all exchange students and you can always contact them. All in all I am
happy here and often it's the little moments that make me so happy.
Sunset watching with one of my closest friends here when my friends write in the
group chat and we have to stifle our laughter in class, thrift
shopping at Value Village (!), those type of things :) Bigger highlights would be
for example Homecoming, very soon Prom, Cabot Trail, birthday parties, March Break
including St Patrick's Day and so on. I am so incredibly grateful for all the
experiences!

I have been living in Florida for 5 months as an exchange student. During these months I have made very close friends, which was one of the best things that ever happened to me. My friends and host family have taken it to heart to show me so many things here and to use and experience the, unfortunately short, time with me. Some of these moments with my loved ones here included an airboat ride with my host family over the Floridan marshes or spending the night with my friends right on the beach. My high school here has made it a point to bring different cultures together with the help of exchange students and create great experiences together, like Grad Bash or Prom, which I also got to attend. If there were any problems, I was always able to solve them with the advisors from Kultutrwerke Deutschland and my local coordinator. In summary, I am very happy to have taken this step and to have experienced this half year in the USA. I would recommend this experience to anyone!

My name is Alicia I am 16 years old and I have been in Victoria, Canada for 4 months. I got along very well with my host family right at the airport and was welcomed very warmly. My host family consists of my host mother, host father, host brother and two host sisters, my one host sister is also from Germany. So we are two Germans in one host family. I know you are thinking that you are not allowed to do that and the answer is actually yes. With Corona, however, this is all regulated differently, but for me it is perfect, because we get along super well and have a great time together here. Also, sometimes I go hiking with my host family or we play games together or watch a movie together. I enjoy all these moments very much, my host family has become like my second family and I am always welcome here. I also think that I will definitely visit my host family here in Victoria again and they might even visit me in Germany. The school here in Canada is really not difficult, so you really don't have to worry about that. But the subjects here are totally different, for example there are also food studies, dance, photography and many more. My subjects here are Spanish 12, Social studies 10, Food studies 10 and criminology 12. You are probably wondering why I have two classes in 10 and two in 12, I don't really have an exact answer for that. I got my timetable at the beginning and the subjects were already divided that way, so they thought of something ☺. If you have the opportunity to choose subjects, definitely choose subjects that you don't have in your school at home, like me for example Foods and criminology. The Canadians here are all super nice and totally open, just talk to them. A very important tip on the first day of school just ask if you can sit with them and in class as well, because the seats often stay that way the whole time. So just be open in school and everything will be fine. But don't worry about school and homework, you always have enough time to do something with friends.
From my organization Kulturwerke Germany I feel very well cared for here abroad, because I have a feedback conversation once a month and if I write them a message via WhatsApp they always answer quickly. The feedback talks are about my experiences here in Canada, how I'm doing in general and whether I need tips for something.

In general, I like Victoria very much and I feel totally comfortable. I can't pick out one particular experience that I liked the most, because I have already experienced so much. However, the best experiences were my trip to Banff and Lake Louise, skiing in Whistler, Vancouver and all the experiences with my friends. I am very happy that I decided to go abroad because I made a lot of new friends, learned the language better, gained a second family and saw a lot of new places. I would do it again and again!!! For these reasons I can only recommend a year abroad.

I have been in Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles for 5 months. I felt comfortable here from the beginning and with my host family it is also great. They are very nice and attentive. My host family has given me the opportunity to visit and enjoy Las Vegas, Mammoth and Hawaii. The school I go to here is very big but I quickly found my way around and made friends that fit me. I have made many great and fun memories with my friends so far. The people as a whole are very friendly and open. The school system is different from the German one and so it was very interesting to get to know another school system. I could learn a lot so far and I also enjoy the school time especially because I see many friends there that I usually only see on the weekends. My best experiences so far were my trip to Hollywood where I went with friends to see the Hollywood sign and "the walk of Fame", the trip to Santa Monica, to the pier with friends, the birthday party of Gaby and definitely the vacation in Hawaii. The support from Kulturwerke Germany is very great. There is a conversation about Zoom once a month with the agency and the local coordinator. You can send them a message or call them in case of an emergency or a question.
I would count the year abroad as one of my best decisions in life. I have learned so much here, my English has improved remarkably which is very important to me personally and I have truly made memories for life.

My name is Johanna, I am 16 years old and I have been in Montreal, Canada for almost nine months now. I feel very comfortable here, my host family is incredibly warm-hearted and open-minded. From the beginning, my host mother has taken very good care of us and is eager to show us, my two host sisters and I, as much as possible of the country and the culture. Especially the school is a big highlight for me. I never had any problems keeping up in class and both the students and the teachers were very open and interested in me. During the whole nine months I was also in close contact with my local coordinator. In addition, I have monthly feedback conversations with Kulturwerke via WhatsApp. A big plus is that I never had the feeling of being alone during the whole time, but always knew who to contact if something would be. If you are reading this and are also thinking about going abroad for a while, then I can only recommend Kulturwerke Germany to you, as I was able to enjoy a very personal and individual service. This time here in Montreal has given me many incredibly beautiful experiences. My personal highlight was generally the school experience, because everything is quite different from Germany - in a positive sense. Unfortunately, I'll be heading back home in two months, but I can say that I've learned a lot about people, other cultures, and also about myself during this time, and I'll be coming back more confident and open-minded.

I've been in Green Bay, Wisconsin for about 5 months now and unfortunately my time here in the US is already coming to an end as I'm only living here for one semester.
Nevertheless, I have experienced a lot and could collect great memories during my time here.
I was able to get to know a great family with whom I grew together extremely after a short time and in which I felt like a part of the family. I had the opportunity to get to know the American everyday life and to discover many cultural differences. I was able to meet many wonderful people who I can now call my friends and spend a great time together with them in my American high school.
Of course, the beginning was not too easy because I missed my friends and family from Germany and at the same time I had to settle into my new environment, but all that did not last long. My host family was very welcoming from the beginning and tried to get the best out of my exchange and help me whenever I needed it. Also at school I was welcomed very openly by the teachers, but also by the students and already on the first day I met a few girls with whom I am now very good friends after these 5 months. Above all, I was able to make a lot of friends through the soccer team and feel even more comfortable at my school.
Some of my best friends and fondest memories, however, I could collect on the trips with my partner organization here on site and the many other exchange students from different countries. Whether it was a day trip skiing or a week vacation in Florida with Disney World and the beach, I had a blast and am totally thankful for all the people I got to meet and the memories I was able to capture! Of course Prom and Graduation were also great experiences because those are just aspects you don't really know from Germany and you can enjoy them together with your friends.
I now have about 3 weeks here in the U.S. in which I have no school and which I will definitely still enjoy! Of course I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends in Germany again, but now I also have very close friends and "family" here in Green Bay which makes it all the more difficult and sad to leave.
I can only tell you that maybe not everything will go as you expect during your exchange, but that it is definitely worth the experience and you will outgrow yourself in any case! I don't regret my decision to come to America for six months and I would do it again if I had the chance! Have courage and go the step into the unknown and all the more important ENJOY IT, because this valuable time can not be repeated!!!

Hello my name is Aliah and I have been in Nampa, Idaho for 5 months. I quickly got along well with my first host family. They already had a lot of experience in hosting and therefore knew directly how to make me feel comfortable. Although it was a big change due to the family, new school, new environment and generally new people, I needed some time to settle in. Once I settled in after the first few weeks, I felt very comfortable in the USA. My host family tried to show me as much of the United States as possible. We went on several excursions. Often we went to see cities in the area. In Spring break we drove to Oregon Seaside and visited several towns and an impressive waterfall on the way. With my host family I spent 3 nice months, but due to an emergency I changed my host family. I now live with a friend from my school and her family. I have 2 host sisters who are my age and with whom I get along very well. I got along very well with my host parents right away. They do a lot with me on weekends and often spontaneously. They have grown very close to my heart and I see them as a second family that I will never forget. Even after my stay they plan to visit me in Germany.
I enjoy the school here very much. I go to a small art school that I have grown very fond of. The students are very nice and open and also the teachers are very helpful and I have a very good relationship with them. Since I am in an art school, the classes are smaller and I have very creative and great subjects like pottery, dancing and guitar which I enjoyed incredibly.
I feel very well taken care of by my organization Kulturwerke Deutschland. Once a month, I have a feedback conversation via Zoom in which the staff inquires whether I'm doing well and asks me if I need support with a concern. We have a WhatsApp group where I can always get in touch if I have a concern. The organization is in a very personal contact with me and accompanied me from the planning of the stay abroad until my departure to my home country.
I have a local coordinator from the partner organization ICES. I met her at the beginning of my stay and now have monthly feedback meetings with her. She inquires if I have any concerns on site that I want to talk to her about. If there were any problems I could always turn to her.
To describe a best experience would be difficult for me because I love the school here with the open and nice students and teachers, I like the openness of the people in this culture, the culture and the country fascinate me, I am so happy that I had the opportunity to see the West Coast and the East Coast, so New York and Washington DC, the Prom was also a great experience and most of all I like to have met such great friends with whom I know the contact will last and I will see them again. My year abroad was a great decision that I will always remember and can only highly recommend!

I've been in Vancouver for 6 months now and so far I've only made great memories! Kulturwerke Germany has found me a great host family, with whom I get along great and can also do things together. I was also able to incorporate my interests into my application because I was allowed to choose my school district. Here I take subjects such as psychology, law or guitar. There are also numerous sports and activities. I am surrounded by helpful people and can always ask for support from my Local Coordinator. A great experience so far was the hike to Elfin Lake together with friends. I really couldn't have imagined it better, so I can only recommend Kulturwerke Germany. The price-performance ratio is also absolutely super.

I have been in West Palm Beach (Florida) for 8 months. Here I go to a high school called The Kings Academy. I live here with a host family with whom I get along well. Sometimes I disagree with them but in general we get along very well. We go on excursions with the whole family every now and then which are always very funny and a lot of fun. The school is really great here the lessons are sometimes demanding but also really fun. I especially enjoy subjects like photography and weight training. I also play tennis at my school which is really great. The teachers at my school are super nice and always helpful. If I have any questions or problems, I feel very well taken care of by my school. They regularly ask how you are doing and I think that's really great. The school also offers regular excursions, which are often free of charge, which I personally find really great. Kulturwerke Deutschland also offers feedback talks once a month and there is also a WhatsApp group chat. My best experience so far was a trip to Universal with my school.

I have been in Canada (Nanaimo) for 7 months with Kulturewerke Germany. The preparation was good with several online seminars where questions were answered, sausages and information was shared. After that, everyone was invited to a slack group where you could connect with others going to the same region or city. On-site support is good with the Canadian international office and regular feedback meetings with Kulturwerke Germany staff. This is usually monthly and you can sign up online for the appointments. I got a good placement and am at Dover Bay High School in Nanaimo. This is one if not the best school in town is pretty good. There are many different subjects in the school and the international office is very knowledgeable there. There are only 4 subjects per semester, which ensures that you can focus more on individual subjects. There are a lot of international students at the school and also special help if someone doesn't get along with the language. For example, there are people who can correct English texts for you if you need it for school in Canada. My host family placement was good and I now live in a host family with 2 host parents and a dog. I ride my bike to school regularly and otherwise I usually buy a monthly bus pass. If you live a bit further away from the school, there are also school buses that take you then. On the whole, I am satisfied with the service provided by Kulturwerke Deutschland and can recommend it to others. I am generally satisfied with the service provided by Kulturwerke Deutschland and can recommend it as such. There were occasional delays in responding, but this was due to a staff shortage in Team Canada and should already be resolved. There is a Whatsapp group with Kulturwerke Deutschland and we stay in contact with them if there are any questions or problems. I can only recommend to go to Nanaimo Canada with Kulturwerke Germany. It is quite quiet and beautiful here and nature is just around the corner.

My name is Noah and I have been in Fort Lauderdale Florida for 4 1/2 months now. I get along very well with my host family since the first day. My host family is very active and has already shown me a lot of Florida. We have made many trips to different places. I can't complain about my school either, I have made many friends and hope that the contact will continue. At my school there are different subjects that you can't choose in Germany, for example one of my favorite subjects is marine biology. In this subject we talk about the different oceans, their inhabitants and tides. I feel very well looked after by the Kulturwerke, they are always open when I have a question and once a month I have a feedback conversation via Zoom in which they ask me if I am doing well, if I am being taken care of and if I have any questions. I am also in contact with Kulturwerke via WhatsApp. I can ask questions or even ask for a short phone call. On site, I have a local coordinator from the partner organization in Florida. We talk regularly and also get along very well. If there were any problems with my host family or if I didn't feel comfortable, I could contact them. My best experience here in the U.S. so far was a trip to the Everglades where we rode airboats through mangroove tunnels (a type of plant that grows here) and saw many alligators.

I am Layla, and I have been living in Milroy Indiana which is rather rural on a small farm for a few months.
My host family consists of my two host mothers. At first I was not so excited about my placement and host family. I had imagined a "classic family" with mother, father and children. I was also worried that it would be too rural for me and that I wouldn't be able to do anything there. I then had a longer conversation with my contact person at Kulturwerke Germany and my fears were taken away and I should get involved in the cultural exchange and see how it develops before I judge too quickly. When I arrived, I got along really well with both of them right away, now and then there are misunderstandings or minor arguments, but we always talk about it directly and can clarify everything. Besides, I think that belongs to a family. I was able to settle in quickly, I have my fixed tasks here, like I help in the household and I also take care of the animals, just like I am used to in Germany. The school here is a completely new experience for me, in the beginning it was very unusual, because the school system is completely different, but you get used to it quickly and I really enjoy the lessons here. I play softball now, actually I wanted to play tennis, but the team was already very full and others just had more experience than me so I didn't make the team. That is understandable for me and completely okay. I often spend my free time with friends, sometimes after school but more on weekends, because the school is a bit far from my home and my host mothers can't drive me back and forth every day, of course, because they also work themselves.
The best experience for me so far was Christmas. The whole family came to visit, there was great food, lots of presents, and a good time together. Kulturwerke Deutschland supported and prepared me well, so I didn't have any false expectations and could already guess what was coming. My contact persons are always available for me, and I also find the monthly feedback meetings always helpful because I get some tips there. Due to the time difference, I have to get up about 10 minutes earlier once a month because we have the meeting before school, but that works for me.
I would do it again and again and can only recommend KD!

I have been in Indiana for 3 months. My host family and I get along incredibly well. They are always friendly and treat me like a real member of the family. We have already made some trips and are often together with the whole extended family. The school here is basically very great, you just have to be careful when choosing subjects that you don't only take the most difficult classes and then have to do school all day. The sports offered at the school are great though! Much more varied than in Germany and also much more intensive. I learned more tennis here in 3 weeks than in 1 ½ years of tennis in Germany. I couldn't imagine a better organization than Kulturwerke Germany! They are very nice, always check if you are doing well (monthly meetings where you can talk about any problems or just rave about your stay) and they are very forgiving if you have problems and try everything possible to solve them. Contacting them is very easy through an individually created whats app group. On site I have a local coordinator and I love her. She writes me regularly, plans to come to my tennis matches and sometimes invites us to her place to have movie nights. My best experience so far was my tennis matches and a trip to Pennsylvania. I have no regrets and wish I didn't have to go back to Germany.

I am currently in Minnesota for 5 months with the organization Kulturwerke Germany. Just now in the last few weeks I have grown even closer with my host family and it feels like a 2nd home. We got along really well right from the start and they do a lot with me. My host family really tries to show me as much of the USA as possible. They have made it possible for me to see many new and different places, such as Florida, Arizona and Indiana. The school here is much easier than in Germany and I can follow the lessons well. The teachers are very understanding and like to help you. I also have many subjects that we don't have in Germany, for example Basic Foods or Design. In the U.S., school sports are an important part and I had several opportunities to try out typical American sports. I am very satisfied with the support of my organization Kulturwerke Deutschland. I have a feedback meeting every month in which I can tell them how I am doing and what I am experiencing. If I have any problems, I can call them at any time or write to them via WhatsApp. What I personally find very good is that they answer me really quickly and everyone always seems super friendly and helpful. On site here I have a local coordinator whom I can also write or call at any time. With her I have a phone call from time to time or we meet somewhere and talk a bit. I don't really have a favorite experience but one of my highlights was definitely the trip to Arizona with my host mother and sister, we went to a ranch and rode through the desert. A few weeks ago was my prom and just the whole day with getting ready, Grand March and the dance was super nice. My year abroad was a really good decision, I met great new people and saw beautiful places and would repeat it anytime;)

I had a total of 4 or 5 preparation seminars, so already some and I felt well prepared.
I have been in Anacortes, Washington for almost 8 months now and I like it here very much. I had some problems with my host family, but my contact person from the Kulturwerke team was there for me and gave me tips etc, which helped me a lot. I have a feedback meeting every month where I can share everything that is bothering me with my contact person. If I need more conversations I can always get in touch :)
My Local Coordinator only lives about an hour away from me, so relatively close! that definitely makes you feel safe.
My high school is very small (200-250 students) which of course has advantages and disadvantages. It is easier to join the sports teams and the contact with teachers is more personal than at big schools.
I had some problems with my host family, I had a double placement for about 2 months, but with him there were a lot of disputes and he then also changed the host family. I often had very difficult weeks, where I got a lot of support from Kulturwerke, which helped me a lot and for which I am incredibly grateful.

My name is julia and I am currently in the USA for 5 months with Kulturwerke Germany. I still can't believe that I am living my dream right now! I was placed in Indiana, Pennsylvania with a super nice host family that consists of my dad, my mom and 2 cats. We are always doing something and so I am never bored. In general, Americans are known for always being "busy" and on the go. I have had so many great moments with them such as a trip to Washington DC, NYC, New Jersey, Greensburg and our weekly "grocery shopping" which is always mega fun. I also still have monthly meetings with my local coordinator who makes sure I am doing well. The school here is also mega. It has around 900 students and many of them are incredibly friendly and immediately made me feel at home. I have developed really good friendships in the meantime. Of course, you can't forget how well Kulturwerke actually prepared me for my year abroad. They answered my questions very quickly and they were also a great help when I applied for my visa. Meanwhile, I also have a feedback conversation with them every other month. I am living my dream and only with the help of Kulturwerke Deutschland!

I have already been in Michigan, USA for 7-8 months. I am really satisfied with Kulturwerke Germany and do not regret my decision to spend my year abroad with Kulturwerke at all.
My host family, school and friends are just great and I've already had a lot of fun.
The Kulturwerke staff is very friendly and helpful. A What's App group and monthly feedback sessions give you the opportunity to ask questions, talk about concerns, and share your experiences. In addition, Kulturwerke prepares you really well for the year abroad with 5 preparatory seminars.
I would definitely recommend Kulturwerke Germany because you are really well taken care of, the price is reasonable and the fun and experiences are limitless!
Salome Klink

I have been in Idaho (USA) for a few months now and I really like it here. I have a super great host family. In the beginning, I actually wanted to go to Canada and everything was already booked and planned, but then Corona came and I unfortunately could not follow my original plan and had to change to the USA. Kulturwerke Germany supported me very well and helped me a lot. Now I'm doing super well here and I'm very happy to have landed in the U.S. My local coordinator is also super nice and helpful. If there were any problems, I could always contact the Kulturwerke and a good solution was found very quickly. I am very satisfied and can only recommend the organization.

I have been in Florida for about 5 months now and would have been back home by now, but I tested positive for Covid. I was very lucky with my host family, even if misunderstandings arise from time to time, we get along really well. My host father has the same sense of humor as me and my host mother is sometimes really like a friend. I share a room with my host sister, but I'm actually quite happy about that. In my opinion, you just generally talk more that way. If time permits, we also do a lot together. Additionally, my surroundings here are mega beautiful and have some nice beaches. My school is not like your typical high school, but it has a great variety of subjects and offers a lot of after school activities. The road trip with my host parents and vacation time in general made us bond even more, which was definitely the best experience here. In addition, Kulturwerke always asks during the monthly talks how things are going and how you are doing. In addition, you can get in touch at any time via WhatsApp and you also have a local coordinator. Afterwards I would like to say that I would recommend it to almost everyone to do something like this themselves, despite some of the lows that you might have. I think if someone has the opportunity, they should take it. Because everyone learns, no matter how it goes, super much that won't happen at home. Honestly, I haven't even really found it hard to be away from family and friends because I live fully in the moment and block that out well. From my perspective, it's always worth living abroad for a while.

Absolutely competent and helpful organization of my son's stay in England with language study trip and work and travel.
Over the years, the team has created numerous offers for teenagers and young adults in different countries and is well connected with various partners on site. The communication was always smooth and very accommodating even with special requests, special challenges were quickly mastered together.
You can tell that the team's first priority is always to ensure that the young people have a successful experience.
A big thank you!