Exploring Paris with AIFS Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

NO daily homework like we get in American language classes - just big assignments and tests. Most of your grade is from the final. Fortunately, the AIFS classes were really easy, which was fine with me because my priority was learning the language. I did that in my French and phonetics classes and in everyday life - you learn a ton of French in bar/café discussions with strangers. The light workload also gave me more time to travel and explore Paris.

On-site administration of your program

Jane was wonderful. She organized all the cultural excursions -- definitely one of the highlights of the whole program. Alexia, the housing director, was helpful as well. But I had a very traumatic experience with a service AIFS had hired at the end of the trip and Danica, the program director, was extremely unhelpful and unsympathetic. I also had friends who had a lot of difficulty transferring credit and making the schedule work for them, as many of the classes on the website weren't actually offered for our semester. I think we had about 6 options total for classes. The program size was nice, though, only 46 people, so you got to know people well and it was small enough that you were motivated to get out and make French friends.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a gorgeous neighborhood, literally two blocks and a bridge away from the Louvre. I could walk home from the bars and clubs easily and safely, even late at night. I even walked to class every day (about thirty minutes but you don't notice when it's so beautiful). Only drawback was that it was expensive to buy groceries in my neighborhood. I didn't need to buy anything except food. Host families are different in France - my host mother definitely talked to me and occasionally we spent time together, but it has the feel of renting a room much more than being a part of the family.

Parisian food is famous for a reason! Eat out when you can. Don't bother with tourist traps or cheap restaurants - eat at home (pasta is cheap, as is bread and cheese, both of which are awesome there) and save up for the good places. Make sure to try some of the pastries, a good way to have a reasonably priced treat.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The program did a great job with cultural excursions - we got to go to Reims, Giverny, and Versailles with the program, as well as optional trips to Normany and the Loire valley. There were also a lot of great trips within Paris - museums, tours, wine and cheese tastings and so on. Particularly memorable was the Fairground Art Museum, which is closed to the public throughout the year. It's a "musée spectacle," which is like an interactive museum, of fairground art from the turn of the century. It was a really special experience.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

It's a big city. Be smart. Watch your purse, don't walk alone at night, and know your way around. As far as health, I never went to the doctor but a friend went to the emergency room and it was free! The program will also reimburse your doctors' fees if you save the receipts. Medications at the pharmacy are also really affordable.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I lived with a host family, my American roommate and I spoke French to each other, and we went out and explored the city often. I spoke French in daily interactions. Despite what you hear, the French are friendly especially if you want to speak French with them. Another great way to practice French was to go to where people hung out at night - either bars, the canal, or along the Seine or Place St. Michel - and just talk to people. If you stick to French in the classroom you really won't learn much.

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• Host Family

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• Americans
• Host Family

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