An Experience of a Lifetime. Past Review
By Rachel Cook (Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne / IPFW) - abroad from 05/16/2016 to 07/16/2016 with
IES Abroad: Paris - Summer Internship
Learning not only in an international environment, but also gaining international work experience in a safe environment where I was encouraged to grow and learn in my French has given me an experience and memories I can take into my future.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
This program offers a great hands on learning experience of the French workforce. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on-site staff were incredibly informed and well versed in both the language and how the French society functions. The staff takes a special interest in each students success. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living with a family gives students an incredibly unique experience of fully emerging themselves into the French culture and language. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Paris is an incredible hub of international, as well as French, culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The staff is sure to aid each student with health issues, including food allergies. |
| * Safety: |
While Paris is a large city, the staff was thorough in explaining how to stay safe in the city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Living with a host family, working in the French culture with a multicultural team is an experience very few are able to have. I was able to meet incredible people from all over the world and build relationships in my career field and on a personal level, too. |
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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan side trips ahead of time. Last minute trips can get expensive quickly. |
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? | Fourth semester of college level French |
| 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? | Use every opportunity that you can to speak and hear others speak. |
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? | How exhausting functioning in another language is for the first few weeks. |
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.' |
