Pushing myself and gaining confidence while abroad! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This program was very academically rigorous because each student usually enrolls directly into Parisian University for at least two courses. This program is for students with a strong background in french who are ready to push themselves in their language skills. Additionally, students take usually two courses at the Sweet Briar Center (in the heart of Paris) with the other Americans enrolled at Sweet Briar. These courses were extremely good, especially the Atelier d'Ecriture with Madame Mellado- this was the best french class I have ever taken and she was one of the best teachers I have ever had. She made me enjoy a french grammar class!

On-site administration of your program

All of the administrators and teachers at Sweet Briar were excellent, extremely organized, kind, and responsive.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a homestay, which most students at Sweet Briar do. Overall, this was a very good experience, because SB is a homestay based program most of the students who are in the program are very committed to learning and practicing french, which created a nice environment of committed and academic students. Everyones homestay experiences were different, some better than others, mine I felt was about in the middle. I felt safe and comfortable in my homestay and I was well taken care of. I did not feel a deep connection with my homestay family, but it was still a positive experience because my french improved a lot by eating with them everyday and I also felt very independent in my life in Paris.

Unbelievable, in my homestay, and everywhere...its France!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very integrated because I was enrolled directly into Parisian University for half my classes and living with a host family. It was hard to my parisian friends though, but I ultimately did have one french friend which was nice!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

No health issues while abroad, but I felt very safe in France because my friends who had health issues, those issues were dealt with at no cost to them because France has socialized health care, so everyone is taken care of.

Most of the time I felt safe in France, always during the daytime and when I was with others I felt safe. If I was alone at night, on the metro or walking home I would feel a bit nervous, but partially I think that is just my nature. Additionally, pick pocketing is a very serious problem in Paris so I was pretty aware of my belongings at all times, especially in the metros and touristic areas, all students studying in Paris should be extremely aware of this, at least a third of the people I knew in Paris had something stolen from them while they were there.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not very easy. Paris is extremely expensive and there are so many opportunities when one is abroad that it is hard to limit oneself, especially in regards to weekend travels and food.

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

We had to speak french in the Sweet Briar Office. We had to speak french in all of our courses, and at home with our host families. It was very intense. But not quite as intense as a few other programs, such as Middlebury where each student needs to sign a contract saying they will only speak french while in Paris.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans

• Living with a host family who only spoke french.
• Traveling to other places on the weekends and breaks!
• The challenges of living in a big city!

• The french bureaucracy is ridiculously disorganized.

The Academic or Linguist