Grenoble: A Great Taste of France Past Review
By D. R (French Studies, Education, Iowa State University) for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: French Alps, France
I'm a French teacher now, so my experiences in Grenoble have shaped how I teach and interact with my students. I am more culturally aware and more sensitive. I gained a great deal of independence from the experience and would gladly go again, except this time for a year!
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Université Stendhal III |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I loved my program at Stendhal III. The French educational system is a complete 180 from what I am used to, but I enjoyed the professors and my peers. It was an international program, so I was able to meet a lot of different people at my university. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I didn't have much to do with the university administration, but our program directors on site for CEA were really helpful. They were anxious to get us familiar with the area and were a great resources for any questions we had. They were knowledgeable about the area and had great depth of connection with Grenoble. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I absolutely loved my host family. They were terrific people and so willing to help me out. They were clean and accommodating. My host family was a little far away from the university and some of my friends, about 20 minutes. But they were quick to tell me of bus lines and methods of transportation that could get me from point A to point B. |
| * Food: |
Everything was great. I had to get my own meals on the weekends, but our program was good at letting us know where things were and where the best joints were. My host mother was an AMAZING cook. :-) |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The trip to Vienne that our director organized was the most memorable for me. It was a nice little French town with a lot of history and attractions. The university had sponsored trips for small fees to Annecy and Avignon. Those were really enjoyable as well. What I enjoyed most was the authenticity of the cultural experience. I felt French-like I belonged there. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Very safe-I had nothing to worry about. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
The program was designed for international students learning French, so all courses were completely directed in French. The complete and authentic immersion was so helpful for me. I was the only American and English speaker in my class, so I was definitely forced to adapt and use the language. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Go for it, especially if you have never been to France before. After going to Grenoble, then Paris, I realized that the real France is out in provence. Grenoble is a laid back city with great people and wonderful outdoors opportunities. If you are a free spirit who enjoys exploration in the outdoors with the benefits of a smaller city setting, definitely go here. You won't regret it. |
