The Brest summer program was a life-changing experience for me.

The CIEL Program was the most culturally diverse experience I have ever had; there were students in my class from China, Japan, Italy, Spain, England, Taiwan, Switzerland, Russia, Sweden, and Germany. I quickly made friends from diverse backgrounds, and not only did I practice my French with my companions, but I also learned life lessons about culture and people around the world. The courses at the CIEL were very challenging and enjoyable. The ability to progress in course level gave me a clear goal to strive for. My host family was warm and welcoming, most weekends we traveled to see some of the well known towns and landmarks, such as Briac, St. Malo, Quimper and the Mont-St-Michel. My summer in Brest was an amazing trip that I would recommend to any student of French.

---Nicole Lucey

My summer study abroad in Brest, France...

was an amazing experience I will never forget. Not only was I able to increase my ability to speak and understand French, but I also became more confident in using the language with native speakers. During my stay I lived with a welcoming host family who lived only a ten minute walk to the local beach.

As CIEL is an international language school, I met people and made friends from all over the world, many of whom I am still in contact with today. I strongly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in improving their language skills and experiencing French culture first hand in a beautiful and charming environment.

---Justin Laurion

Traveling to Brest, France...

to study the language and doing it through a cultural immersion program was an experience of a lifetime. I had a wonderful time meeting students from all over the globe, traveling the Brittany countryside, and really improving my French. My host family was above and beyond my expectations and I could not have asked for a better summer abroad.

---Erin Christensen

Brest, France is an amazing little port city...

that offers a fantastic opportunity to learn about the culture and language of northwest France. It offers everything from historic sites and museums to amazing restaurants and beautiful beaches overlooking the region’s picturesque lighthouses. The CIEL program itself gave me not only the immersion and focus I needed to find proficiency in the French language, but it gave me a wonderfully diverse group of students from all over the world to live and learn with as well. The teachers at CIEL were excellent at their craft and I became good friends with all of them. The family I lived with treated me as one of their own and I suspect they will remain close friends with me and my family for the rest of my life. My summer in Brest was a truly worthwhile experience I will cherish always.

---Patrick Nearing

Brest: A Great Cultural Experience

There is something incredibly empowering about traveling to a foreign country and to find that not only can you communicate in the language, but you can pass the day without speaking a word of English.

I spent two months studying in France with the Brest program and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. Living with a host family allowed me to understand the French culture and language in a way that I never could have otherwise. Aside from its fun and challenging mixed style of teaching, the school has students that come from countries all over the world which allows for a great global cultural exchange. The city itself is filled with festivals and live music every Thursday at the Port de Commerce. The Brest program is one that I would recommend to anyone who wants a rich cultural and linguistic experience.

---David Bornstein