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Exploring Paris with AIFS

A Study Abroad Program Review of AIFS: Paris - Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne

Submitted by linzelise (Government and Arabic,female,The University of Texas at Austin) on August 13th, 2011

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Academics
Language
Housing & Food
Culture & Health
Final Opinion

Personal Information

Start Date:

Jan 13, 2011

End Date:

May 28, 2011

If you enrolled at multiple foreign universities, please list them here:

Université de Paris IV, University of London Institute in Paris

International exposure prior to program?

0-2 weeks

Academics Overall

**Overall educational experience:

**Comment:

NO daily homework like we get in American language classes - just big assignments and tests. Most of your grade is from the final. Fortunately, the AIFS classes were really easy, which was fine with me because my priority was learning the language. I did that in my French and phonetics classes and in everyday life - you learn a ton of French in bar/café discussions with strangers. The light workload also gave me more time to travel and explore Paris.

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Course Title:

Français Niveau Avancé (Advanced French)

Instructor:

Stéphanie

Language of Instruction:

French

Please comment on the course:

Somewhat challenging as it focused mainly on French grammar, and I didn't find the professor's explanations very enlightening. It was fun to meet international students. There was homework but it was usually pretty light and nobody checked it - we just went over it in class, so it was easy to fall behind if you weren't motivated. We had some literature too, which was nice. I wish there had been more emphasis on speaking practice.

Please rate the course overall:

Did you have any credit transfer issues upon return to your home institution? If so, what would you suggest to other students?

I didn't, but I know people who did. Make sure you study a bit for the Sorbonne placement test so you get in to the class you need for UT credit.

Course

**Course Title:

Franco-American Relations from Lafayette to Today

**Course Department and Number:

GOV

**Instructor:

Prof. Galichon

**Language of Instruction:

English

**Please comment on the course:

Easy peasy, but we got to walk around Paris a few times and the big assignments were to visit places frequented by historical figures - I got to see Fitzgerald's apartments, for example. If you know much about history though, you won't learn a lot from this class. Fortunately, I didn't.

**Please rate the course overall:

**Did you have any credit transfer issues upon return to your home institution? If so, what would you suggest to other students?

I took it for UD GOV credit but you could probably take it for history credit as well, or European Studies.

Course

**Course Title:

Art and Ideas in France: 1858-1919

**Course Department and Number:

Art History

**Language of Instruction:

English

**Please comment on the course:

Though the classroom component was a bit rudimentary, we got to visit lots of museums - it was awesome to get a guided tour and for someone like me who doesn't know anything about art history, it was very enlightening.

**Please rate the course overall:

Course

**Course Title:

Phonétique (Phonetics)

**Instructor:

Can't remember the name, but this was at the Sorbonne

**Language of Instruction:

French

**Please comment on the course:

Most useful course of the semester. Five hours a week, every other week. We just would repeat after the teacher, record ourselves, and listen back with personalized feedback. This made the most difference in my ability to understand and be understood in French.

**Please rate the course overall:

**Did you have any credit transfer issues upon return to your home institution? If so, what would you suggest to other students?

I think it was included for credit in my Advanced French class.

Language Overall

Foreign language component?

Yes

**Language acquisition improvement?

**Comment:

I lived with a host family, my American roommate and I spoke French to each other, and we went out and explored the city often. I spoke French in daily interactions. Despite what you hear, the French are friendly especially if you want to speak French with them. Another great way to practice French was to go to where people hung out at night - either bars, the canal, or along the Seine or Place St. Michel - and just talk to people. If you stick to French in the classroom you really won't learn much.

Host Country Program Administration Overall

**On-site administration of your program:

**Please explain the program's strengths and weaknesses:

Jane was wonderful. She organized all the cultural excursions -- definitely one of the highlights of the whole program. Alexia, the housing director, was helpful as well. But I had a very traumatic experience with a service AIFS had hired at the end of the trip and Danica, the program director, was extremely unhelpful and unsympathetic. I also had friends who had a lot of difficulty transferring credit and making the schedule work for them, as many of the classes on the website weren't actually offered for our semester. I think we had about 6 options total for classes. The program size was nice, though, only 46 people, so you got to know people well and it was small enough that you were motivated to get out and make French friends.

Housing Overall

Living arrangements? (all that apply):

Host Family

Who did you live with?

Americans

Host Family

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

**Housing satisfaction:

**Comment:

I lived in a gorgeous neighborhood, literally two blocks and a bridge away from the Louvre. I could walk home from the bars and clubs easily and safely, even late at night. I even walked to class every day (about thirty minutes but you don't notice when it's so beautiful). Only drawback was that it was expensive to buy groceries in my neighborhood. I didn't need to buy anything except food. Host families are different in France - my host mother definitely talked to me and occasionally we spent time together, but it has the feel of renting a room much more than being a part of the family.

Food Overall

**Food satisfaction:

**Comment:

Parisian food is famous for a reason! Eat out when you can. Don't bother with tourist traps or cheap restaurants - eat at home (pasta is cheap, as is bread and cheese, both of which are awesome there) and save up for the good places. Make sure to try some of the pastries, a good way to have a reasonably priced treat.

Safety and Health Overall

**How well were health issues addressed through your program?

**Safety:

**Comment:

It's a big city. Be smart. Watch your purse, don't walk alone at night, and know your way around. As far as health, I never went to the doctor but a friend went to the emergency room and it was free! The program will also reimburse your doctors' fees if you save the receipts. Medications at the pharmacy are also really affordable.

Money Overall

**How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

General Assessment Overall

Review Title:

Exploring Paris with AIFS

**Words of wisdom:

If you aren't concerned about being challenged academically and are willing to be proactive in exploring the city, this program will be great for you.

**If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program?

Yes

**Overall satisfaction with your study abroad experience:

**Was your study abroad experience worthwhile?

Yes! It made me more independent and made me rethink my academic and professional future.

Go abroad again!:

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Exploring Paris with AIFS

A Study Abroad Program Review of AIFS: Paris - Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne

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