IH Belfast, Belfast

Cyril Praz

IH Belfast, Belfast
Duration: 12 weeks

I chose to come to Ireland and especially to Belfast because I love irish music and I always dreamt of seeing the Irish countryside with its beautiful green hills. Belfast is a medium size city. You can get around very easily on foot and most things are within walking distance. The school apartments are great and very near the school. The history of this city is perhaps troubled but also very interesting. One of the first things you will realize is that the Irish are very friendly, they will always help you and of course, drink a guiness (or two) with you. The school is also very friendly with its lovely teachers who will laugh with you and make learning English fun. Classes are full of interesting activities, so that learning English is not a punishment but a pleasure ! The countryside is amazing and the cottages are very nice. In Ireland, there are also lots of beautiful old houses and castles that will remind you of the age of knights. If you travel around the country you should take the costal road because the landscape is simply wonderful. Belfast is a beautiful city with the River Lagan flowing through the town and its victorian buildings. Finally, I really enjoyed learning English in Belfast. I definitely want to come back here again, maybe for my next holiday !

Mathias Bornand

IH, Belfast
Duration: 21 weeks

My 5-month stay in Belfast was absolutely great. Belfast is a pleasant city and its inhabitants are very friendly. The landscapes in Northern Ireland and Ireland are breathtaking! I had the chance to visit many different places, such as the Giant's Causeway, the suspended bridge of Carrick-a-rede and the cliffs of Moher. And I was lucky enough to experience St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin – I will never forget it!

At school, supervisors, teachers and students warmly welcomed me. My experience was incredible! I met people with the most different backgrounds and I am still in touch with them. I lived in a cosy and well-equipped apartment, only 2 minutes from the school, and the city centre was 10 minutes away. My language stay in Belfast was great, I met many interesting people and – of course – I significantly improved my English level!

Florine Allaz

IH, Belfast
Duration: 4 weeks

I chose Belfast because I was very intrigued by this small and detached part of the United Kingdom. The beauty of its enchanted landscapes - almost fairy! - did not disappoint me. The beautiful walks are uncountable, and the nightlife is completely different from what we are used to. Irish people are warm and nice; they are always up for chatting and sharing a pint of beer (Guinness, usually). As for the activity programme – there is a great choice: the Giant's Causeway, the multiple castles, the city hall and the different cities in proximity, such as Dublin, Londonderry or Galway. The cost of living is definitely cheaper than in Switzerland: renting a car and go on an excursion with other students is a great and affordable experience. The school is located in a quiet area full of students, as the Queen University is close-by. Courses are diversified and teachers use interactive teaching methods to make lessons more interesting; they are excellent, highly qualified and understanding. The only remark I can make is that I was not very happy about the students’ distribution among the different levels, but then I discussed the issue and found a solution.

My stay wouldn’t have been the same without my wonderful host family. They were exceptionally welcoming and included me in their daily life. I highly recommend Belfast; I have already booked my next holiday there!