CEA Aix-en-Provence: You must go! Past Review

By (Biology and French, University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth) for

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Aix-en-Provence, France

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Living in Aix for a semester made me fall even more in love with the French language and culture. I plan to return when life (hopefully) makes it possible again.

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.

A few courses were very challenging (Vocabulaire) with a lot of memorization but it was to be expected at the highest language level. Very little "homework" and instead expect some reading.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Le petit marché was wonderful to buy fresh fruits and vegetables any day of the week. Le grand marché was the time to buy fish, apples, and cheese.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Fantastic excursions! A local vineyard where we helped to prepare a delicious lunch we then ate. A family-run olive orchard where we tasted fresh olive oil and met the owner's son and dog. Camargue where we went on a horseback trail ride around the salt marshes. Just amazing excursions.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

The best way to learn French is to be in a homestay. If in an apartment, you have to seek out social situations in order to practice your French.

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The CEA program in Aix-en-Provence is the best in France. The coordinators are lovely, extremely helpful and approachable to help plan a trip over vacation or a weekend in Paris or to get a recommendation for a local restaurant. The excursions take you into the heart of the culture and off the beaten path (you can easily visit Pairs/Nice/Lyon on your own). Definitely stay with a family if you want to improve your French though.