It was a great experience but the program itself needs some work! March 06, 2023
By Charlie D (Environmental Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/05/2022 to 12/16/2022 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Paris
I learned how to be responsible for myself and manage my finances. I also learned how to make friends in a foreign country. It was worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
more than enough rigor, less than enough resources. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were very good at handling textbook issues, but not very good at helping students when unforeseen issues arose. |
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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? |
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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? |
Yes
I couldn't have chosen a better city to live in. The program could use some help supporting students, and there was little communication between local and middlebury professors, but overall it was a great experience. |
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) |
Paris is expensive. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | > $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook for yourself as much as possible. |
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? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Listen to French music, watch French movies, speak it as much as possible. Go out of your way to speak it outside of class. |
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? | The first month is hard no matter what, so take it slow and don't expend yourself too much. |
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.' |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Intermediate French - Low |
| Course Department: | French |
| Instructor: | Patrick Guédon |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Not very challenging, but the teacher was good at addressing things that the whole class needed to work with. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | N/A |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Le Spectacle de Paris dans la litterature et la cinema francaise |
| Course Department: | French |
| Instructor: | Jonathan Dégenève |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | It was challenging and very educational. It felt like a true Middlebury course. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | N/A |
