I see Paris, I see France! Past Review
By Emma Kreutzer (University of Arkansas - Fayetteville) - abroad from 01/08/2018 to 04/28/2018 with
AIFS: Grenoble - Grenoble School of Management
It was absolutely worthwhile. Spending months in a foreign country where you don't speak the language improves your language skills, makes you more adaptable and flexible, gives you a greater understanding of the culture you're in and opens up your eyes to all of the opportunities that the world offers.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses were fairly similar to the ones I would've taken at my home university in difficulty, but they had a lighter workload and were taken with international students! |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very friendly and mostly helpful; slow to get documents returned, but that's to be expected with the French lifestyle |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host mother was very kind and had a nice apartment in a good location! |
| * Food: |
2 meals a day for 7 days a week with the host family, and it was homemade French food, so of course it was delicious! |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Because I was taking classes in English, I didn't feel as included in the French culture as I thought the other AIFS students in the French language and culture program were (mostly because they were better at speaking French than me by the end), but all of the GEM students were friendly and helped us acclimate! |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Even in the so-called "unsafe" parts of town, I felt mostly safe at night. Any uneasiness came from strange people hanging around the tram stops, but that would be anywhere you go. I never felt unsafe in Grenoble. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Everything that was included in AIFS's program fee was extremely helpful, as were the people who helped every step of the way. The classes themselves were my least favorite part, but they were about the same as what I would have taken at my home university, except they were in France with international students! |
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) |
Definitely possible to not spend much on food since you have host family meals twice a day, but it's France so I spent most of my money trying all of the food! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you travel, look for cheap flights, use Airbnbs, and look at reviews for restaurant prices because that's where most of your trip money will go. |
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 |
|
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate II |
| 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? | Talk to your host parents and befriend French students |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That I want to work internationally - if I had been more exposed to other cultures growing up, maybe I would've chosen to major in international business. |
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. |
