MICEFA is a great way to study abroad in Paris Past Review
By Andrew B (French Language and Literature., The University of Texas at Austin) for
MICEFA: Paris - Study Abroad in Various Universities of France
Almost everything for me has changed. My major, my career choices, my understanding of myself... I could go on and on. I gained such a vast array of experience from dealing with other cultures, to dealing with peers, to learning to accept myself. I wouldn't change this experience for the world. The only thing that was difficult and unnecessary abroad was the French Departments wariness at trusting that academic validity of the programs. They made parts of my time abroad not only unenjoyable but downright difficult. Still, MICEFA was the program for me and studying abroad will be something I carry with me forever.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universite de Paris III: La Sorbonne Nouvelle; Universite de Paris VIII: St. Denis |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
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 |
The administration at MICEFA consists of a few women that are working their absolute hardest to mediate the French bureaucracy and you. Because of this, they don't have time baby anyone. With this in mind, they did far more than I ever thought they could with their lack of support and funds. They help as much as they can and that was all I could expect of them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
17e arrondissement, 54 bis rue Cardinet <br /><br /> I chose to live in a chambre de bonne, or the maid's chambers in a gorgeous apartment building in the 17th arrondissement. The apartment was ridiculously small (only 9 square meters) but it was mine. The only downside was my inability to entertain people which was kind of a drag after a while. |
| * Food: |
It's Paris. It truly is the food capital of the world. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
MICEFA plans a few trips ever once in a while, like to Mont St. Michel and Giverny. Take advantage of these because they are cheap and fun. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Paris is extremely safe, especially for the sheer amount of people that are crammed into it's city limits. I felt safer walking in Paris in the middle of the night than I do in Austin. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Yes, two things: 1) Buy two one-way tickets for air fare if you are staying for the year. Be willing to fly cheap with a lot of connections but it is WAY cheaper. 2)The best deals on housing is having a colocotaire but if you want to live alone be willing to pay more and have less. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | FR312K, FR312L |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
The best way to improve your language skills is to get out into the social arena, make friends, and be willing to make mistakes. You have to be willing to find people that don't mind talking to a foreigner, and while this is sometimes difficult you should give it your best effort. It is true that this best way to learn a foreign language is with a lover, and while this may seem weird to say it is for sure the easiest way to lose the embarrassment of making errors while speaking. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Decouverte Paris I |
| Course Department: | Paris VIII: St. Denis, FLE, 250432 |
| Instructor: | Mdm. Dos-Santos |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | This course was indeed challenging and actually was one of the best ways to learn about the history of Paris and it's more famous residents. The class consisted of an extensive oral presentation, a lengthy dossier, and a self-guided tour of an area of Paris. It was really fun lead the class around are chosen parts of Paris, and to share the knowledge we had amassed during our research. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Yes, the French department most likely will not give French course credit for this class, but regardless it is still a worthwhile class that will undoubtedly improve your understanding of Paris and French culture in general. Not only that, but Mdm. Dos-Santos is probably the best professor I had during my time in French. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Literature de Paris |
| Course Department: | MICEFA |
| Instructor: | Mr. Tomi |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Really informative literature class that is wonderful in helping one learn not only about the literature movements of the time, but also there specific place in Paris as well. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
| Course Name/Rating: |
L'Europe et ses nations 1914-1945 |
| Course Department: | Paris III: La Sorbonne Nouvelle, U.F.R d'Etudes Europeennes, Y6L01 |
| Instructor: | M. Delaunay |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Challenging course taught over European history during the two great wars. Really interesting and M. Delaunay gives fairly engaging and funny lectures. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Contemporary Arts and Theories of Modernism and Postmodernism |
| Course Department: | MICEFA |
| Instructor: | Mdm. Rosi Huhn |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Fairly boring modern art history course, but it was taught in English which after an entire year of Parisian courses taught in French... was a welcome break. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
| Course Name/Rating: |
French Grammar/Language Intensive |
| Course Department: | MICEFA |
| Instructor: | Mdm. Mercy |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Language intensive during the first part of the MICEFA program. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Advanced Grammar |
| Course Department: | MICEFA |
| Instructor: | Mdm. Nossenko |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | One of the most difficult French grammar courses I have taken. It will ultimately help you in the end though. Nossenko is the head of the French grammar dept for MICEFA so she takes her classes seriously, but you will only reap the rewards for this. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Yes, I was not informed that the French department would not be granting FR320E credit to students abroad. I therefore took the course without receiving credit for it. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
L'Art en France de 1789-1914 |
| Course Department: | MICEFA |
| Instructor: | Mr. Peigne |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | This course was a lot of fun with a young professor who is really passionate about French art. We were able to visit most of the major museums in Paris and even took a field trip to Monet's home at Giverny. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Decouverte Paris II |
| Course Department: | Paris VIII, FLE, 250433 |
| Instructor: | Mdm. Dos-Santos |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | This course was indeed challenging and actually was one of the best ways to learn about the history of Paris and it's more famous residents. The class consisted of an extensive oral presentation, a lengthy dossier, and a self-guided tour of an area of Paris. It was really fun lead the class around are chosen parts of Paris, and to share the knowledge we had amassed during our research. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Yes, the French department most likely will not give French course credit for this class, but regardless it is still a worthwhile class that will undoubtedly improve your understanding of Paris and French culture in general. Not only that, but Mdm. Dos-Santos is probably the best professor I had during my time in French. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Interculturalite: France/Amerique/Le Monde Francophone |
| Course Department: | MICEFA |
| Instructor: | Mdm. Nossenko |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | This course was a study of the interconnections between France, America, and especially the Francophone world including Canada, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, etc. From studying the Francophone countries historical and cultural events, we were able to learn the place of stereotypes, cliches, and imaginary culture that arise between the Anglophone and Francophone worlds. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
