An experience for growth and change! June 11, 2025

By A student (Biology, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/08/2025 to 05/11/2025 with

Academic Programs Abroad (APA): Paris - Immersion for Intermediate & Advanced French Speakers

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

Absolutely. I learned so much about different cultures with all my traveling, got to experience independent life in a city, improved my French skills, and just generally loved my time.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	I got a great idea of the French educational system and enjoyed my courses.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Very disorganized and the staff were not as supportive as advertised.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I liked the area but didn't like the cleanliness of the living space.
* Food:	Paris has amazing food!!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I was sometimes nervous and felt out of place, but eventually passed as a Parisian and gained confidence!
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	The program was very quick to get me an appointment with a doctor when I needed it. I saw a doctor and it was only $30 and got prescriptions for $8. I eventually went back for a follow up and she sent me for lab work. The labs are all over the city and very easy to access, although I had a lot of difficulty accessing results and didn't end up accessing one of them.
* Safety:	I would just suggest everyone to stay vigilant and don't act like an American. There are lots of unhoused people and travelling alone at night (especially as a woman) can feel unsafe, but I never experienced any issues myself regarding safety. I did encounter a few incidents where people were getting in fights, getting pickpocketed or having falls on the metro specifically.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes There is no maybe option! I really enjoyed Paris, my life there, my friends, my courses. I did not enjoy specific aspects of the program, it was very disorganized and the staff were often dismissive and not supportive. It was a learning experience for me to let go of some of my attitudes about organization and productiveness which was helpful and needed, but hard in the moment.

Finances

* 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)	It was pretty affordable to eat and fulfill basic needs. I was able to spend more because I had saved up a lot!
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	150+, depends, I travelled a lot!
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Definitely save up a bunch before you go, but it's a once in a lifetime opportunity so take advantage! I often decided to take meals at my foyer which were free so I could spend more money on the weekends traveling.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language	We were not allowed to speak in English in APA office or with staff/other students.
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 106
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?	Use tiktok and instagram reels, great way to hear people our age using the language and get prepared!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students International Students
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?	Excursions/Spectacles French speaking Diversity in available courses
* What could be improved?	Communication Organization (dates, times) Kindness of staff
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Regardless of how prepared you are, there are always obstacles that can be scary but a good learning experience.

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 Academic or Linguist You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Immunology
Course Department:	Biology
Instructor:	Many
Instruction Language:	French
Comments:	It was hard but interesting, very different from US courses and I did not participate regularly. The TD sessions were like recitations and super helpful, the final one called a tutorat allowed me to engage with other students and required us to present to the class.
Credit Transfer Issues:	N/A haven't transferred them yet.

Course Name/Rating:	Geography of Health
Course Department:	Geography
Instructor:	Hugo Pilkington
Instruction Language:	French
Comments:	Pretty easy course and great professor! Unfortunately it was cancelled a few times, but the exams were very easy (two online ones) and there was a cool map making final project that was pretty self-directed.
Credit Transfer Issues:	N/A

Course Name/Rating:	Art History of the 20th century
Course Department:	art history
Instructor:	Emmanuelle LeCadre
Instruction Language:	French
Comments:	Challenging, but not too much, it was an APA run course but with a real professor and included a museum outing each week which was great! There was an oral presentation of a work in the museum, a written midterm exam and an oral final exam that was a little scary but not too bad. Really enjoyed the course and learned a lot about art history!
Credit Transfer Issues:	N/A

Course Name/Rating:	Cinema of France and Elsewhere
Course Department:	French
Instructor:	Cyntia Vernet Sellem
Instruction Language:	French
Comments:	Not challenging, very disorganized and hard to access the films. The focus was really on grammar rather than discussing the films which were incredible and warranted discussion. There were multiple different types of exams, all written and with a focus on grammar. This course was required and I didn't feel it helped me much, but I did enjoy most of the movies, and we went to the Cinematheque and saw the Wes Anderson exhibit which was cool, although he is an American director.
Credit Transfer Issues:	N/A