Loved France and the program, didn't love the administration Past Review
By Ariela N (French Language, Literature, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/03/2015 to 05/20/2015 with
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
GO ABROAD!! You learn so much about yourself and others. You learn how to be more independent, make decisions, and to just enjoy. It is hard to put into words how much I loved my experience (despite complications with administration) because it's really up to each person to craft their own experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was refreshing to be at a school that was not as academically rigorous as Wellesley, so I would see this as a positive thing. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I did not like the director of this program. I found her to be very cold and unapproachable. She planned good field trips, and was great at talking to parents, but not good at reassuring students. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Our director should have more clearly asked host family what they meant by certain specifications they listed. My host family did not want a vegetarian, and I told my director that I did not eat red meat (thinking she would pass that on to the host family and double check with them), but I showed up the first day, and my family was completely taken aback. They were not warned, and then my host dad would make subtle, yet irritating/rude remarks about me not eating red meat. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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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? |
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) |
The $10/day stipend was fantastic!! Really helpful! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Not much at all. Probably about $60 a week on food out of my own money because the stipend was great. I spent more when I traveled on my own. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make the most of the stipend they give. Don't use the whole $10 a day for food because then you can save it for school supplies, books, etc. |
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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 210 |
| 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? | Watch movies, talk to as many French people as possible! If you need to carry out a daily activity (returning something, etc.), look up the vocabulary you need for that before hand so that you can remember it, instead of avoiding the situation all together. |
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? | I wish I knew that our directors were not very warm people and that there would not really be an adult on the staff who I felt comfortable talking with. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
