It was a very life changing experience. Past Review

By (Psychology, Trinity University) - abroad from 09/05/2016 to 12/18/2015 with

IES Abroad: Paris - French Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned many things. I learned to be much more independent, to take care of myself, to enjoy time, to understand better different cultures.

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.

I really learned a lot, professor are great. It was not as hard as Trinity is, but I think that is a good intensity while you are abroad, otherwise it would have been impossible to actually have an outside of class/library experience. I was able to get to know the city, the culture due to the not strong demand of homework and work load.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The only thing that was hard by living in a host family is that if you don't have friends who have apartments you are forced to always be outside. It was partially a good thing because that is I spent so much time outside my house. But when the weather got colder it was a little bit hard not to be able to invite friends to the house and have a night in.

* 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

I really loves my program, the only thing I would maybe change would be to receive education with not only americans but a program were there are locals as well.

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)

It was a little bit harder, I always knew Paris was an expensive city but I never imagined it would have been that expensive to actually live there for a semester.

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? Literature
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? Get involve with the community. My program had only american students, so you were not really going to speak to them in french when it was just easy to speak in english and you had classes all day in french and wanted just to have easy communication.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Classes
  • Professors
  • Location
* What could be improved?
  • More events to integrate students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The real price of things in Paris

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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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.