CEA Paris: I would do it all over again without changing a single thing! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The French grading system at the University of Paris, where I took my french classes, was very different from the American grading system of A - F. The French use from 1 - 20, with 20 being the highest and it is commonly known that a 20 is very difficult to obtain. An above average grade would be above a 15 or 16. I had my French classes everyday. Either I went to the grammar class or the phonetics lab. The total units for the French class was 10. Surprisingly, I wasn't at the lowest beginner level as I thought. I self-studied about a month prior to arriving in Paris and was at the beginning intermediary level. At the American Business School of Paris, the grading system, teaching methods, and workload was similar to the American educational system. I found that the business courses I took were challenging as they were upper division. It was a rewarding experience overall.

On-site administration of your program

The administration handled the orientation and excursions very well. I truly enjoyed that the office contained additional educational as well as leisure resources such as: reading books, traveling guides, and a computer lab. If I could do the study abroad program again, I would definitely go with CEA again!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The safety at the hostel could improve, but since we had been warned about pick pocketers in Paris, I was very conscious of my surroundings. One time, a stranger walked into our hostel room pretending to be a housekeeper, when I was in the room by myself. He wasn't wearing a uniform like the two cleaning ladies wore, so I immediately knew that he wasn't telling the truth about who he was, and that he wanted me to get out of my room to steal something. After he realized that I wasn't leaving the room, he left and I later heard that he stoled a wallet. I remember that he asked me where the broom was and that was a giveaway because I told him that it was at the end of the hallway. If he had been a housekeeper then he would have known where the cleaning supplies are kept. From this experience, I learned to ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS lock your room, even if you're leaving for a few hours! Everything else as far as safety, aesthetics, proximity to class and hightlife were excellent! What helped me make this an enjoyable experience was that I made some really good friends while in Paris and they made me feel safe and secure. I would love to do this all over again. Grocery shopping is highly recommended if you are on a tight budget. I found that food wasn't expensive if you prepared it and luckily our hostel had a kitchen available with cookware. The staff at the hostel were absolutely welcoming and totally friendly. I believe this is why I felt safe, with the exception of the stranger walking into my room, the staff at the BVJ hostel in Paris located at the 5th district - Latin Quarter- rocks!!! Breakfast is also included in the price.

It's Paris! The food was the best I had ever tasted!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The excursions to the Loire Valley, the Normandie Beaches and WWI memorial, and Bordeaux are great places to visit outside of Paris. I actually learned a lot about American history while attending these excursions.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There was only one safety incident which I addressed under the housing satisfaction section.

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

I used the language in everyday interactions. Before arriving to Paris, France, I had only taken French in high school which had been about 8 years since I decided to visit this beautiful country. Taking the oral and written exams were a bit intimidating but it challenged me to learn the language and be able to communicate while I was abroad. From my encounters, everyone spoke French, so I would only speak English with my roommate.

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• Hostel

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• Americans

• That they provide multiple events to meet new people, practice the language, and get the most out of the experience.

• The price of the international business program was the highest among the other programs of study.