Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Summer in Grenoble Past Review

By (English literature + Français, Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 05/30/2012 to 07/28/2012 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: French Alps, France

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My speaking and listening skills have definitely improved. I tried some interesting food. I met many interesting people both in my program and through the school and dorm. I think it was a worthwhile experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was in the Intensive Language Program for two months. It wasn't quite as intensive as I expected it to be, but I definitely learned a lot and I was able to review concepts I had already covered in my university French classes. We had regular homework assignments, and the pace of the class wasn't overwhelming in the least. It was very relaxed, yet my speaking and listening skills improved quite a bit.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The on-site program director is a very nice and helpful man. He's knowledgable of the city, culture, and program and he's good with the students.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in the program's summer residence hall. It is home to a very diverse student population. I really enjoyed that aspect of it.

* Food:

There are a lot of restaurants in Grenoble. I found a few that I visited frequently, but in general I had no issues with the food in France. The food was good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't really have any health concerns while I was abroad. I only caught a cold once, and I went to a local pharmacy for it because cold medicine isn't offered in the grocery stores. The pharmacist was helpful, and I guess it was a good language experience too because I had to acquire vocabulary to tell him what I needed from the store.

* Safety:

I stayed aware of my surroundings, so I had no trouble with safety while living in Grenoble.

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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $80-100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you have access to a kitchen (like in the residence hall), you should visit the daily (except Monday) markets that are open until noon. Vegetables and fruit are really inexpensive at the markets!

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? 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? French 202
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • On-site program director
  • Language professor
  • Meeting people from all over the world
* What could be improved?
  • Pace of classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The weather during the summer is really all over the place. I thought it'd be a bit more mild, but the temperature ranged from 50-100 F (around 10-38 C) in June and then it was just really hot in July. There isn't much use of air-conditioning in Grenoble either, so be prepared!