Adventures in Nantes Past Review
By rachel.carey.773 (Western Washington University) - abroad from 09/02/2013 to 12/12/2013 with
ISEP Exchange: Nantes - Exchange Program at Université de Nantes
I learned a lot about how other people live, their opinions on the United States and the importance in communicating with someone in their native language. IT WAS SO WORTHWHILE.
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 |
Jelena was FANTASTIC. She is super dedicated to the program and I wish that more of her ideas were implemented. We had lots of conversations about how to improve the program and she had some great insight. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I wish that I had more contact with French families and french students. I was isolated to international students and many of them spoke english. |
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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? |
No
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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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
I didn't receive my stipend money until halfway through the program, so I needed A LOT more money up front which was very difficult. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50$ |
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? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 314 |
| 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? | Do a little bit of something EVERYDAY prior to going. It will help SO much-take it seriously and you will be thankful that you did! |
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 could have taken business courses in French if I had just asked my adviser at the beginning! The program told me that it was impossible but it was apparently pretty easy to do. |
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.' |
