Great language improvement Past Review
By A student (DePauw University) - abroad from 01/06/2016 to 05/08/2016 with
Academic Programs Abroad (APA): Paris - Immersion for Intermediate & Advanced French Speakers
Overall, yes, it was worthwhile. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with problem solving on the fly, from interesting travel experiences to how to get home when a metro line is down.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Not necessarily academically rigorous, but French language improvement is immense |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The APA ladies are great! So helpful and kind. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living with a host family was an amazing experience |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Beyond my host family and my university classes, I felt like just one more person on the metro, not really involved with French youth culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
APA and my host family helped me to find a doctor for a cold |
| * Safety: |
Paris is a big city, but I typically felt very safe, both in the neighborhood I lived in and going to and from classes. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
APA is a great program, but for me it wasn't exactly the right fit. I loved the language component, but the classes weren't all that what I wanted and I felt unchallenged by them. |
Finances
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* 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) |
Paris is also an expensive city, so you really need to watch your budget |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | 300-level |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Immerse yourself right away -- it's hard at first, but it gets easier. If you don't know a word, try to explain the word in the language before saying the word in your native language. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I'd had more opportunities to spend time in large cities before jumping in to Paris. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
