Grateful for program support Past Review
By Mia Edelstein (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/06/2016 to 05/06/2016 with
Academic Programs Abroad (APA): Paris - Immersion for Intermediate & Advanced French Speakers
I learned to be more independent.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Know that this program does require a substantial amount of work during the semester. This is not just a vacation in Paris. You will spend much time doing homework, though not as much as if you were at your home university. APA staff gave me academic resources when I requested them. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The three women who run APA are fantastic and very helpful. They are responsive and kind. They will help you with any problem you face while abroad. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Unfortunately, my host family and I were poor personality matches, but once I brought it up to the APA, they were quick to move me into a student residence. They never made me feel bad or ashamed about it not working out with my host family, and they had a solution within two days. |
| * Food: |
Eating out in Paris is great. You are close to both traditional French cuisine and restaurants of other cultures. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
APA matched us with language exchange buddies, so it was nice to know a French student from the very beginning. However, it's hard to make friends at the French universities because they are enormous and fairly anonymous. I did feel more culturally integrated that socially integrated. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care is so cheap in France! APA helped me find a doctor very quickly when I needed one. |
| * Safety: |
Despite the attacks in and around Paris, I felt very safe. Just beware of pickpockets and remember that you're in a big city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
The cost of living is pretty high in Paris. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | To reduce costs, bring your lunch from home. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
|
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | FREN 185 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make French friends, especially by joining an extra-curricular activity. Listen to French music and watch French TV. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | There is a lot of homework. |
