great city, mediocre program, beautiful buildings, terrible host family. Past Review

By (International Relations, French, Tufts University) - abroad from 09/07/2013 to 12/19/2012 with

Institute for American Universities (IAU): The School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Aix-en-Provence, France

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
cultural and language experience, travel. it was definitely worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

very easy classes, and i took the hardest ones available.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

my host mother could barely cook. she made frozen dinners almost every night or fed us cold cuts. it was embarrassing. we complained twice to the program and very little progress was made.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 40 euros/week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? go grocery shopping rather than out if you can

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
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? fr 22
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? make local friends! join a sports team or something.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • professors
  • the school's location
  • the city
* What could be improved?
  • housing
  • communication between students and professors
  • more meal coverage in tuition
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? it is entirely americans, most of whom aren't abroad to learn french.