Paris: The best time you will ever have Past Review
By Kathleen C (French Language and Literature., Trinity University) for
IES Abroad: Paris - French Studies
absolutely
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. |
The education at the center was great, and so was the experience outside the center. I found it greatly educational to observe the local culture. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Administrators were very available and helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My housing situation helped my comfort level in using the language. I really enjoyed it, I lived with just a host mother who was very kind and accommodating. She and I were not in the apartment at the same time very often, but I was free to use whatever I needed. It was a fairly independent experience, which is exactly what I asked for and I loved it. Other students who had requested more involved families got what they wanted as well. The location of my home stay was amazing, it was maybe a three minute walk to the center. |
| * Food: |
I was very satisfied with my dining experience. I frequently ate at a restaurant in the St. Michel area called Le Petit Hostellerie, it was very affordable and it was delicious. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We were able to get free or reduced price tickets to most attractions with our student ID cards. There was a night club next to the Gare Montparnasse called Mix Club that had free admission for foreign students before midnight on Thursday nights. |
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | More than I expected, probably a couple hundred Euro per week or more depending on what I was doing that week. Expenses can be manageable however, If you do any grocery shopping, I recommend the Marché Franprix, there is one down the street from the center on Rue Daguerre if you are walking towards the Denfert Rochereau metro station. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buying minutes for a phone if you buy one in country can get pricey, but it is actually a better deal if you buy more. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I used the language in class everyday as well as in my interactions with my host mother and other people I interacted with. Many locals did speak english, but they liked you more if you spoke french. |
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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