It was a difficult semester, but I learned a lot. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/31/2016 to 01/16/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Paris

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained competence as a French speaker, the ability to adjust to and navigate through different cultures. I gained personal confidence and knowledge of how to take care of myself in challenging/stressful situations. I also discovered a lot about my personal likes and dislikes.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

As a Middlebury student I'd only have the chance to choose between this program and the ones in Bordeaux and Poitiers if I wanted to study in France. So I guess I would choose it. But I would seriously consider whether I should go abroad at all.

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? 70-110 euros

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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? 210 and 230
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Kind administrators at the Middlebury Center
  • my France & Europe course
  • The cultural activities planned by Middlebury
* What could be improved?
  • I feel that the program asks its students to do too much academically. I felt extremely overwhelmed, and think I would have been happier/less stressed being enrolled in four classes rather than five, or taking all my courses pass/fail.
  • A better pre-departure security briefing.
  • More support and preparation for students attempting to receive learning disability accommodations.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known how difficult it would be.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Histoire des Arts de l'Afrique

Course Department: Paris 1: Panthéon-Sorbonne - Histoire de l'art et archéologie
Instructor: Maureen Murphy
Instruction Language: French
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Français: Intermédiare

Course Department: Middlebury Schools Abroad: Paris
Instructor: Patrick Guedon
Instruction Language: French
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

France & Europe

Course Department: Middlebury Schools Abroad: Paris
Instructor: Marion Gaillard
Instruction Language: French
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Première Renaissance Italienne

Course Department: Paris 1: Panthéon-Sorbonne - Histoire de l'art et archéologie
Instructor: Anne Imbert
Instruction Language: French
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Institutions Artistiques du XXème Siècle

Course Department: Paris 1: Panthéon-Sorbonne - Histoire de l'art et archéologie
Instructor: Sophie Delpeux
Instruction Language: French
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: