Challenging journey at first but will highly recommend Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/07/2019 to 05/15/2019 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Poitiers

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes, I improved in my French proficiency

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I learned a lot in both my science and French classes

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program had a good support base with the Poitiers administration. I was hosted by the administrator who personally gave me one on one orientation about the city.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with a host family and will highly recommend.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

No vaccines were required for the program. However, I had to wait a while to get an appointment with a physician. The doctor was very professional.

* Safety:

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

Poitiers provided a serene atmosphere to learn and grow intellectually

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)

It was fairly okay to be on a student budget. I suggest buying a months pass for the vitalis bus. It helped me save a ton.

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

We had to sign the Middlebury language pledge where we only had to communicate in French

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

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • My host family
* What could be improved?
  • Arranging for STEM academic support, especially at the early part of the program, can make a difference in the academics
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That classes begin fairly early

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

French Religious History

Course Department: Religion
Instructor: F. Vigier
Instruction Language: French
Comments: The class was engaging for me in that it made me appreciate and understand better the current history and culture
Credit Transfer Issues: