Exploration of as much as the French language and culture as possible Past Review
By Michaela Hylen (Truman State University) - abroad from 02/02/2016 to 06/03/2016 with
Centre International d'Etudes Francaises (CIDEF): Angers - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned that traveling is easy and accessible and the best way to find out about other cultures and people. I also learned that people from other cultures are just like all the people I know and am friends with.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Would have liked to have had more resources for academics such as more online programs, more books, and access to tutoring. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was fairly good about working with students to adjust to their needs and about clearly communicating. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Bénédicte Chopin was a wonderful host mother who made sure to immerse my culturally and my room at her apartment was perfect. The other student I lived with made the experience even better. The only thing I would have liked was if there had been French children in the home as well. |
| * Food: |
I did not pay to have my host mother cook for me, but she did cook three meals for me (once at the beginning, once during break, and once at the end) and those were delicious. Of course all the food in France was wonderful and readily available. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt at home in Angers and in all of France. I felt able to participate in everyday life in the city and the university, and felt I could easily navigate the culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had only one health issue while abroad, a flu for a week, and this issue was easily resolved because my host mother took me to the pharmacy and I was given the appropriate medicine and examination. |
| * Safety: |
For the most part I felt safe, but I did have two incidents of walking home from the university and men driving up in cars asking me to get in with them. The university did a good job advertising how to stay safe and always advised us to walk/travel in groups and gave us all the numbers for the police and other assistance. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I had a wonderful experience in Angers through CIDEF and would absolutely love to go back in the future or for another semester. The living situation was perfect for my needs and so were the classes and cultural experiences and trips. |
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? | $70 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy groceries once a week at the farmer's market because it is the cheapest there. |
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? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | FREN 325 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make friends with students of other nationalities because then the only way you'll be able to communicate is through French. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | I wish I had had more information about how to get to Angers from the US, because I traveled by myself and had difficulty finding the best route and arriving at the correct station to be picked up by my host mom. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
