Pau is a beautiful small town with a lot of adventure Past Review
By Justin Sparks (Ohio Northern University) - abroad from 05/29/2017 to 07/28/2017 with
USAC France: Pau - French Language and European Studies
I learned an incredible amount about the culture both in and out of the classroom. The price tag was definitely worth the experience.
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 levels of class were appropriate, but the gap between them was intense, especially the gap between the top two classes. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Never had any question of the ability of the administration. They were kind and calm in all situations. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The administration did an amazing job with the family paring and I made lifelong friends. |
| * Food: |
Aside from a few outliers, the food was not only great tasting, but healthy. The food in the dining hall was also good, and cheap. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Riding the bus, walking the streets, attending festivals, and eating in restaurants, I was completely immersed into the culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did have an injury and had to go to the hospital. I was taken immediately by my host parents and given crutches by the administration. They did all of the organizing and I received great care. |
| * Safety: |
Never an issue or concern about safety |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Pau was an excellent place to learn the language and culture and I hope to go back someday. |
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) |
Living in a country, you have to go out and eat at restaurants to explore the cuisine, so this was no shock. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Roughly $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep track of your spending and budget your money |
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 |
Every class was nearly entirely in French so that we were learning all the time. They also encouraged going to events and being around the general public to increase exposure. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | 4000 level french |
| 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? | Try to hang out with locals. This is easiest if you live in a family, but if not, try to make friends in a family, or be friends with other native students |
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? | Nothing. The surprises were never off putting. |
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.' |
