An incredible semester in Paris that expanded my perspective Past Review
By A student (University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill) - abroad from 09/03/2018 to 12/19/2018 with
IES Abroad: Paris - French Studies
I was able to see just a little bit more of the world and the beauty and kindness that exists out there. I was able to go see art that I had only ever read about, visit the graves of Van Gogh, Edith Piaf, Simone de Beauvoir, and I was able to eat fresh bread from a bakery on my way to class. All of these things are memories that I will cherish forever and that helped me discover myself and broaden my education not only in an academic setting but also from an interpersonal perspective. My internship was invaluable, not only in helping me gain an understanding of French culture on another level, but in improving my language skills, and giving me experience that will be invaluable as I continue to move forward in my professional life.
Review Photos
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The onsite administration was incredibly helpful in helping me get acclimated to Parisian culture. Also they were really instrumental in helping me land a good internship and find resources in France. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My homestay was amazing and I am incredibly thankful for my host mom. Though it was hard to readjust to having rules and guidelines to follow after spending so much time being independent at college. But overall I was incredibly grateful for the cultural exposure I received. |
| * Food: |
The food was amazing! it was sometimes a bit expensive but that's just Paris. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Most of my social integration came from my internship. I had a bit of a harder time meeting locals especially since I mostly hung out with other Americans. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The administration was super helpful in helping me find a doctor when I started having migraines again. The whole process was pretty simple and they walked me through the whole thing. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
There of course was a mixture of good and bad with the semester. But given the helpfulness of the administration and how much my language skills improved I wouldn't change a thing. I got exactly what I wanted to get out of the program. |
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) |
I had done a lot of saving before I left, but I still had to be very frugal with my money during my time in Paris. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I had to prioritize what I wanted to do and be okay with not doing everything. Also do your research because I was able to do a lot of things for free with my visa. |
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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 203 |
| 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? | Listen to music, podcasts, and try to read in the language as well. You can't rely on American friends to speak the language so you have to get creative with ways to practice the language. |
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 would've known just how much the currency difference would affect my budgeting abilities. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
