Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Paris is always a good idea Past Review

By (Psychology, French, Ohio State University - Columbus) - abroad from 05/27/2015 to 07/11/2015 with

IES Abroad: Paris - French Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot from inside the classroom, but I learned even more from the course-related excursions I attended, which allowed me to see more areas and neighborhoods of the city than I would have seen on my own. My French language and comprehension skills were challenged daily, as I communicated with my host family, my professors, and the people in shops and restaurants. I expanded my vocabulary and grasp of the French language in a way that I could not have done sitting in a classroom in the United States, far from native French speakers. I was able to view firsthand how life operates in a major European city, and how different the culture is in France versus the United States. I made great new friends from the program who helped make the summer as amazing as it was. It was absolutely a worthwhile experience!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

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?

* Food:

* 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? 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About 200-300 each week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save as much for spending as possible! Going abroad is a great source of shopping for things that you would not be able to purchase anywhere at home and it's nice to have extra money to spend on weekend trips to nearby cities/countries too.

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? 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? 3000 level
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? Bring pocket vocabulary books, specifically ones that include terms for travelers/students. They're especially helpful when you don't have Internet access to look up important terminology that you may not have learned in school.

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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Living with a host family and having them help me figure out my way around the city, as well as with my French vocabulary
  • Course-related excursions and field trips to local neighborhoods and well-known social spots
  • The professors' enthusiasm and dedication
* What could be improved?
  • Class structure: back to back classes instead of having a long break would have meant more time to explore the city after courses
  • The chances to meet more locals, specifically Parisian university students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Six weeks go by very quickly and you should take advantage of any free time! I wish I had been able to see everything I wanted to but this gives me a great reason to come back to Paris soon.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.