Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Beautiful mountains and good friends Past Review

By (Economics And French, Western Washington University) - abroad from 09/04/2013 to 12/21/2013 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: French Alps, France

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I improved my listening skills, and I was able to learn different writing styles.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The apartment was great, bigger than I had expected, and in a good location

* Food:

The food is excellent, and you can find less expensive options pretty easily

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health issues other than a minor cold, and I didn't need any vaccines

* Safety:

I felt very safe in Grenoble. Certain areas are more sketchy than others, especially at night, but our program director was helpful in pointing out those areas so we could avoid them.

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)

As long as your good at sticking to a budget you will be just fine. I kept track of my spending each day and I probably spent around $100/week, mostly on food and things for the apartment (toilet paper, trash bags, etc)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? It's helpful to have a mostly vegetarian diet, since meat is more expensive. Keep souvenirs for yourself and others to a minimum, and make sure they're something you'll want to have around for a long time.

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

In classes, the language was required, but during orientation and our weekly meetings almost no French was spoken.

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? French 340 (literature)
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? Use it as often as possible. Speak French with your friends, listen to French radio stations or watch French TV programs, especially the news.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
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?
  • The location
  • The other students
  • The professors
* What could be improved?
  • more homestays available
  • more french spoken
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That it takes a lot of effort to make yourself speak French and talk to new people, but it is well worth it in terms of improving your language skills

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 Linguist
You 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!