Paris - learning how to adapt to the French culture Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/02/2019 to 09/19/2019 with
Boston University: Paris - Internship Program
My ability to critic art has definitely improved, as well as my French speaking level and understanding ability.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
There was one course which I highly disliked due to the structure of the course (two professors co-teaching a theater and film course in French). The remaining courses and internship I had were academically helpful and definitely helped me in improving my French level and enjoying the class dynamic at the same time. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administrators at the BU Paris center were amazing and helpful, eager to make sure students are happy and safe during their stay in Paris. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The host mom I lived with was amazing, as well as the girl who lived with me in the same host family. The only downside to the living arrangement was the rules set by the host mom herself; it was, to an extent, extremely uncomfortable to live with the host mom due to her house rules that imposed difficulties for me personally to adapt to. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Thanks to my host mom and my internship, I was well able to really enjoy learning about the Parisian French culture that I've wanted to experience before being abroad. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
It is extremely easy to find a pharmacy and in France, pharmacists are well trained to provide the appropriate over-the-counter medications to patients. |
| * Safety: |
As long as you watch out of your belongings, listen well to the safety orientation presentation from the program, all should be safe during the stay in Paris. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The internship was definitely something I was looking for, being able to work with French people. On the other hand, being able to take courses with fellow American students, everyone being at the same language level was less stressful and the courses were definitely better enjoyed by myself personally. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about 4 euros per meal throughout the entire semester in Paris by cooking mostly at my host family's kitchen. |
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? | Advanced |
| 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? | semester six level |
| 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? | Living with a host family; pushing myself to speak more to French people I have contact with during my internship and during classes and at home with my host family. |
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? | There is nothing to worry about, especially safety in Paris. Just make sure to be careful, cautious at all times and dress like a local, fashionable Parisian. |
