CEA Aix-en-Provence: You must go! Past Review
By Lauren W (Biology and French, University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth) for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Aix-en-Provence, France
Living in Aix for a semester made me fall even more in love with the French language and culture. I plan to return when life (hopefully) makes it possible again.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
A few courses were very challenging (Vocabulaire) with a lot of memorization but it was to be expected at the highest language level. Very little "homework" and instead expect some reading. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Le petit marché was wonderful to buy fresh fruits and vegetables any day of the week. Le grand marché was the time to buy fish, apples, and cheese. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Fantastic excursions! A local vineyard where we helped to prepare a delicious lunch we then ate. A family-run olive orchard where we tasted fresh olive oil and met the owner's son and dog. Camargue where we went on a horseback trail ride around the salt marshes. Just amazing excursions. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
The best way to learn French is to be in a homestay. If in an apartment, you have to seek out social situations in order to practice your French. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The CEA program in Aix-en-Provence is the best in France. The coordinators are lovely, extremely helpful and approachable to help plan a trip over vacation or a weekend in Paris or to get a recommendation for a local restaurant. The excursions take you into the heart of the culture and off the beaten path (you can easily visit Pairs/Nice/Lyon on your own). Definitely stay with a family if you want to improve your French though. |
