Je Plie Bagage! Past Review
By Shanda Harris (Eastern University) - abroad from 01/12/2016 to 06/01/2016 with
Accès: Strasbourg - Accès Classique: Semester Study Abroad
I would've NEVER learned as much as I've learned, if I didn't come to France.
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 academics were very intense, but it forced me to utilize the French language in a way that I hadn't been able to in the United States. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Acces office was not far away from where I was staying and our director was always readily available if we needed to stop by his office. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was placed with a wonderful host family, and they were a perfect fit for my personality. |
| * Food: |
THE FOOD WAS AWESOME |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very integrated with the local culture. Everywhere that I went, all of the places that I visited, allowed me to really adapt to as well as adopt the French culture. I was fully immersed. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Personally, I didn't have a need to utilize the healthcare resources, but the health plan that I had was awesome, as I was fully covered in the case of an emergency and did not need to pay an out-of-pocket expense. |
| * Safety: |
The city is extremely safe and well-guarded. |
| 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) |
It was not very easy in the beginning, but I soon learned how to budget my monthly stipend. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do not go on shopping sprees. Do not consistently eat at expensive restaurants. If you can't afford it, do not go broke trying to pay for it....because you will "pay for it" when you really need money for the rest of the month. |
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 |
We were strongly encouraged to speak only in French, and our host families did not speak to us in English. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate French 2 |
| 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? | French study apps for android/iphone Youtube French learning videos Study as many verbs as you can and increase your vocabulary. |
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? | 10+ |
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? | Everything isn't as easy as it appears to be. |
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.' |
