Paris for Real Past Review
By Bilguun U (Government, Harvard University) for
New York University: Paris - NYU Summer in Paris
My French has improved much faster than I had expected. My perception of the French culture has changed in many different ways.
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. |
The grading is rather lenient, but I heard it was very much dependent on the different instructors. The second year level course that I was technically supposed to take after one year of French at Harvard was too easy, and therefore I took a course that was slightly beyond my abilities. The school was very helpful and kind whenever I needed help. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
No issues. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was convenient in that I lived along with American students when my French was not good enough for living by myself. The major drawback was that I had to commute for one hour each way from class every day. |
| * Food: |
Food in Paris is really expensive and if you want to save your money, you will probably end up eating a lot of sandwiches. I did not understand why the university charged us more and provided us with the cheques de service, a kind of meal tickets, that a lot of service and restaurant wouldn't accept. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
A trip to Montpellier. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Safe in general, but a lot of pickpockets. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I was very thrifty, and therefore managed to spend about 140 euros per week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | - |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | One year of beginning French. |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
A lot of people spoke English, but I was still able to practice my language skills a plenty. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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: |
Contemporary Topics in French Culture |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Isabelle Coydon |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Amazing professor. Makes the class fun while managing to teach a lot about French culture. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No issues. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Conversation and Composition |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Cecile Petit |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Excellent professor, and very good, comprehensive grammar review. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No issues. |
