Damn, I wish I hadn't chosen to live in Aix. Past Review
By Alison S (Cellular and Molecular Biology, Western Washington University) - abroad from 09/01/2014 to 12/21/2015 with
Study Abroad Programs in England
I gained a good amount of French language and made a lot of state-side friends. If I could go back and do it again, I would not choose to live in Aix, but I am glad I went.
Personal Information
| 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. |
Aix-Marseille Université had a pretty poor campus and a very low amount of student support. The professors were also unorganized and unenthusiastic. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Vivienne and Dylan were incredibly helpful and almost always there to answer questions immediately. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartments were nice, although sharing a room is never ideal. I felt very segregated by living in a "student residence" type building where our whole floor was Americans. Not much interaction with actual French people. |
| * Food: |
I mean, we were in France. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
By living in the city of Aix, we were clearly integrated in that respect, and there were several opportunities for conversation groups and what not, but at the university and overall it was hard to break out of the "American Bubble". |
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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? |
No
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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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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? | Intermediate |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Don't fear the homework. It actually really helps and you get real feedback from real French professors, which is cool. Also, don't get stuck in your apartment. It's really easy to chill all day with your friends from America but I highly suggest making yourself uncomfortable and going out and making friends from the country you're in. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 0 |
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? | That Aix-en-Provence is a renovated roman-style strip mall for weekend Parisiens. |
