Great Experience in Lille Past Review
By Marissa D (English Education, Western Carolina University) for
ISEP Exchange: Lille - Exchange Program at Lille III (Université Charles de Gaulle)
Very worthwhile. Taught me a lot about myself. I've grown as a person.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Workload was fair. Grading system was a little confusing. I liked the teaching methods- mostly lecture, but partner work and a variety of methods used in my French immersion class. Lots of differences between the education system. Overall, a good experience. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Bureacracy could be annoying sometimes. It took a long time to get our meal and housing stipends to us sometimes. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing was okay. The rooms were small but I liked living with other international students and having my own bathroom. I brought sheets and pillows and some dishes with me, but had to buy some cookware there because I cooked most of my meals. The location of the dorm was convenient, close to the mall and not far from campus. I felt safe. The kitchens were okay, I had my own little fridge, but there was no microwave or oven. |
| * Food: |
I didn't eat on campus. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Plenty of things to do. A club on campus organized day trips to different places. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Health care was good, but there's always the bureaucracy. People were helpful and understanding when I had to go to the hospital. (My stay at the hospital was free except for the ambulance ride.) When I was sick one time, a doctor came right to my dorm room to check me out and wrote the prescription for me right there. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Maybe... 30 euros? It depended on whether or not I was traveling, going out, paying rent, wtc. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Travel is expensive, but worth it. Declare a medicin traitant because you will save a lot of money if you have to go to a doctor (which you probably will, even if you're not anticipating it) |
Language
| 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? |
|
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | When studying abroad, you must forget everything you think you know, all of your assumptions and preconceptions, and let the people in that country teach you about their language and culture. |
