More than words Past Review
By Makayla Day (Berea College) - abroad from 09/04/2016 to 12/17/2016 with
IES Abroad: Paris - French Studies
I learned so much. My french got better, and I learned in school, but I learned so much about myself and how to navigate being a person in the world in a way that I want to. It was such a transformative, beautiful experience that I will hold in my heart all my life.
Personal Information
| 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. |
I learned so much, my classes were in French but the professors were able to take the information and the amount of work and make it accessible to all levels of language in the class, I really actually learned so so much from a content perspective with out being overburdened with work or stress. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had a really nice host mom, apartment, and location. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was hard to meet real french people with intentions of cultural exchange, but I think I did my best with my language and cultural knowledge and the constraints of being a student studying abroad. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had a health concern at one point, my program easily directed me to a comfortable, respectful, affordable, and accessible doctor. |
| * Safety: |
I felt like Paris was really safe, even at night there were always people around. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
My professors had classes at other French universities and were very well qualified and more than I could ask for, but were accommodating to the fact that we were American students. It was in a great location. |
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 was really expensive, but I was able to support myself fine with careful spending. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 65e |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't buy a bunch of clothes once you get there. It seemed like a lot of people did a lot of impulse buying, which is expensive, and then you have all this stuff to take back too. There are a lot of free cultural events happening throughout the city if you just look on the internet. Cook and bring lunch a few days a week. |
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? | 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? | FRN 300 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Try to meet french people (in safe environments-- not necessarily bars/clubs)! talk to your professors and your host family! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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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? | I wish I had looked more into Paris and events that were going to be in town before I went so I could plan better. |
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.' |
