Life Changing Experience in Paris Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The structure of this program is very different from a typical semester at a university in the United States, so in many ways it is difficult to compare experiences. At IFE the majority of your formal class work takes place during the first five weeks of the semester. After a week long spring break, each student participants in an internship found for them by the program. Internships are found based on a combination of language skills and individual student interests, however ALL internships are in French speaking environments. It is important to note that this program is a language immersion program. All classes and coursework are in French, so a basic level of French mastery is required to be successful in this program. In addition to traditional course work, the program schedules a number of cultural immersion experiences, museum visits, city walking tours, movie screenings, and food expositions to help students become fully immersed in the French culture. La "pièce de résistance" of this program is the "Memoire de Stage." This individual research paper gives students the opportunity to reflect on their internship experiences and to more fully explore an aspect that interests them particularly. This program is structured very similarly to University experience in France. Professors in this program are also professors at some of the best universities in France (Science Polytechnique for example), but are fair graders and are excited about teaching to interested American students. The beauty of this program is that students are fully immersed in French language and culture while also exploring their own personal interests through means of the internship placement programs. Students who are explicit about their desires throughout the application process will find that they can have internships in just about any field, gaining not only further experience in their field of choice, but also in another language.

On-site administration of your program

Tim, Thomas, and Guillemette, who form the core support team of IFE-Paris are fully accessible throughout the course of the semester and are fully involved with all students present in the program. They take a personal interest in the stories of each student, the work presented by each student, and the progression of the student's level of French throughout the course of the semester. I could not have had a better experience with the administration of this program.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Through the IFE program students are given the option of three different housing opportunities: a foyer (dorm style living with students from all over France and the world), host family, or apartment. I chose to live in the foyer system and again, could not have had a better experience. Despite the fact that students come to this foyer from all over the world, the common language between cultures is French, and thus through constant integration one's level of comprehension and overall mastery of French increases tenfold. In addition, I was able to establish real friendships with students, interns, and workers, who were all around the same age as myself as we participated in various social events organized by the staff of the foyer.

Throught the foyer, students received breakfast throughout the work week and 14 dinners. I was highly satisfied with the quality of the meals provided. In addition, the foyer featured a kitchen on the first floor, accessible to all residents, which allowed residents to cook when they so chose.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

After my experience in this program I felt fully intergrated with the local culture, so much so that I am moving back to continue my studies. Through the cultural immersion programs sponsored by IFE, the daily participation in an internship, and through the foyer, I believe that I was fully integrated into the French and Parisian culture.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I unfortunately became ill with pneumonia during the course of the semester. The program was able to provide me with a list of English language doctors, if I so chose to take advantage of them and contacted me constantly throughout the course of my illness to ensure that I was progressing in health. I had a simply wonderful experience with the Parisian health care system. The doctor was able to see me the same day, perform the necessary examinations, and perscribe the required medications.

I never felt unsafe in Paris throughout the course of my eight months there.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

If students took advantage of the meals provided by their housing arrangement, they could very easily live at minimal cost.

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• Other

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

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• Americans

• Internship Component
• Foreign Language Immersion
• Directors of the Program

• Organization of Particular Classes