There is no better place than Paris, France to learn French. Past Review
By Diana S (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Austin College) - abroad from 01/23/2012 to 05/25/2012 with
Central College Abroad: Study Abroad in Paris
I learned more French than I did the entire year I took French classes when I was in High School.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Institut Catholique de Paris Ecole l'etoile |
| 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. |
This experience was definitely one that was focused on French language and culture all throughout my journey. It was very intense; the challenge was definitely worth it. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My host country program administrator was really helpful. She donated her cellphone number, office number, and email so that she could be reached whichever way we preferred. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived at Foyer La Vigie. Foyers are basically like American dorms, but they are not situated on campus-they are spread out all over the city. |
| * Food: |
I had a meal plan at my Foyer. Only breakfast and dinner are served-Monday through Friday. Dinner was always something different every day, but breakfast was always the same thing-baguettes and butter. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There were always numerous activities that the Foyer sponsored. They varied from Arts & Crafts sessions to "How to Make Crepes." This allowed me to meet the people that lived in the same building as myself. We had to speak in French all the time, because we were all different nationalities. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
My program administrator gave us a book with all of the emergency numbers that we might need. |
| * Safety: |
I had a cell phone in case I needed to make an emergency call. |
| 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) |
3. I had to buy lunch every single day, but in France there are University Restaurants that are low-cost for students and that helped me out a lot. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 35 Euros |
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 |
5 |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
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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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
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? | The services that you will have to purchase out of pocket-as the monthly internet service charge. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Paris Decouverte |
| Course Department: | French |
| Instructor: | Catherine |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Being that this was the first time that I visited Paris I did not know my way around. In this class not only did we get to visit famous landmarks around the city, but we also learned some background history in class before we went out to our discoveries. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
l'Histoire Francaise |
| Course Department: | French |
| Instructor: | Carole |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | This was the first French History class that I have ever been a part of. I learned so much! Not once did I think that the class was uninteresting, because Carole did several different things in class. Sometimes she showed small video clips, had us do group work, gave us short readings, etc. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Phonetique |
| Course Department: | French |
| Instructor: | Palmiero |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | I loved this course! I was really concerned about my French pronunciation, but Professor Palmiero helped me master my weaknesses. There is a lab where we spent many hours listening to recordings of poems or song verses that she had recorded herself. We were to listen and repeat the phrases. This classed served as a motivation for me. I knew that the more practice the better my French would be. Therefore, the three hours of class went by fast for me. |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Langue Francais |
| Course Department: | French |
| Instructor: | Carole |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | My French language course met a total of 9 hours per week. At the beginning I was really worried that it was going to be too difficult, but it all worked out well. Carole, the Professor, is very patient, knowledgeable, and well-prepared. She always made every class interesting by making participation be a major part of the class. We were only allowed to communicate in French-even when we had our 15 minute breaks; it allowed all of us to practice those French skills that we were learning and studying. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
