IES Paris BIA Spring 2017 Past Review
By A student (Cornell University) - abroad from 01/11/2017 to 04/27/2017 with
IES Abroad: Paris - Business & International Affairs
It was the best experience of my life. I learned all and more than I wanted to learn about the culture, language, and people, and I cannot wait to return in the future.
Personal Information
| 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. |
Take classes with Baptiste Lebreton! You'll learn so much about French culture, people, vernacular, politics, etc! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Staff is amazing! They're a major reason why I loved my time in Paris so much! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with a retired French couple in Neuilly-sur-Seine. Amazing town, and the couple was so friendly and nice. I learned so much about French customs that are impossible to learn without actually living with French people. I docked one star only because my host mom wasn't the best cook, but she was amazing regardless! |
| * Food: |
Love French bread and desserts, but not a huge fan of French food in general only because it tends to be very heavy on butter, cream, and cheese, which are not my favorite things. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living in a home stay, volunteering at a Parisian middle school, and taking two classes in French (including one that was about French current events) really allowed me to feel as if I was immersing myself in the local culture. |
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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) |
Paris is expensive |
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 |
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| 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? |
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? | 0 |
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? | Don't be scared to choose to live in a homestay! It was one of the best decisions I made while abroad. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
