Challenging, Cultural and Academic Experience Past Review
By Jaehyuk Y (Social Studies, Harvard University) for
Bryn Mawr: Avignon - Institut d'études Françaises d'Avignon
Yes. Improved my French, my intellectual capacity, and got cool, fun experiences out of it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses at Avignon were fantastic. Some of the best courses I have taken. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff there are absolutely incredible. Nicest people in the world that want to get to know you and will help you out the whole time you are there! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My neighborhood was great, and I had a bike which was even better. My host family lived by herself, so the dinner conversation was not as active as it would have been if there had been multiple family members, but we still discussed a lot. She was very nice, although sometimes particular about living styles. |
| * Food: |
Good food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The excursions are great. We got to see places that Van Gogh painted, Orange (which has a large Roman Opera), Aix-en-Provence and more. My friends and I also planned our separate weekend trip to Geneva. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I always felt safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 5~6 euros per day on food. Weekends a little more. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Avignon is a small city, so you won't spend any more than you plan to other than if you want to travel on weekends. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 3-Year French |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Because it was a graduate seminar, I was a little timid, but my reading and writing improved significantly in this class. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Do your homework! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
MORALE ET POLITIQUE: LA GAUCHE FRANÇAISE DEPUIS LA RÉVOLUTION |
| Course Department: | FRENCH 510 |
| Instructor: | C. Prochasson |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | It was very challenging, but if you are interested in political history or political philosophy, you should take this. The readings are relatively long but they are interesting, and really gives you a good understanding of French political history, which is key to today's democracy. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I have not tried it yet, but I don't think I will. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
ÉCONOMIE, CULTURE ET CIVILISATION DE L'EUROPE |
| Course Department: | Economics S 201 |
| Instructor: | J.-R. Alcaras |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Fantastic course. One of the most interesting courses that uses multiple lenses of social sciences to study Europe. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I have not tried it yet, but I don't think I will. |
