My study abroad experience in Paris was an extreme culturally enriching experience. Past Review
By Sydney G (English, University of Maryland - Baltimore County) for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Paris, France
Absolutely. If I could do it a hundred times over again I would. I loved every minute of Paris.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Cours de la Civilisation de la Sorbonne |
| 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. |
I honestly loved my study abroad experienced. The food, the culture, everything! I really didn't mind the french grading system. It seems as though they work students a bit harder than American school systems do. They also expect a lot more from their students. The workload was significantly more than my home university. I had class 5 days a week for up to 4 hours a day. It was a lot to deal with but I think it was ultimately to prepare students for the final exam. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. They really prepared me for living in Paris and were always available. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was very satisfied with my living situation, however I really wish that I could have had the opportunity to live around french students. i lived in a dorm that was entirely American students and I didnt get much of an opportunity to use my french. |
| * Food: |
The food was great. Living in Paris made me a lot healthier and I think the quality and taste was much better than those that I had in america. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The excursions were a great opportunity. I got to see a lot of France that I otherwise would not have seen. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Luckily I never had an serious health issues or injuries, but those that others had were quickly and appropriately addressed. |
| 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 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Even though I am already fluent in French, the phonetics class that I took helped improve my french greatly, and a few times I was even mistaken for a Parisian. I also learned idioms and helped |
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? | Keep an open mind. Studying abroad will make you love your home country but also will expand your horizons like you never could imagine. |
