Fun Experience Past Review
By Anthony (Virginia Commonwealth University / VCU) - abroad from 09/01/2019 to 05/17/2020 with
CEPA Foundation: Strasbourg - EU Studies Semester Abroad Program
I improved in the French language, I made a lot of friends, and I got to travel a lot in my free time.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The WiFi was bad (but they fixed it and now it’s great!). It’s a nice and luxurious chateau, but it is due for a bit of modernization/renovation. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We’re just a little isolated from everyone else since we’re based out of a chateau in the middle of the forest. But at the same time, it’s easy to go out there and join clubs, explore, and integrate. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
It wasn’t bad at all, but this is a program that was fun to do in the moment, just wouldn’t exactly do it all again (even though I basically did because I am doing the year-long program). I wished the excursions were more interesting and not just mainly focused on education. |
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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Concerning travel, make sure to look into FlixBus and try to fly out of Frankfurt Airport since that will be cheaper to fly from than Strasbourg. |
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 |
You can take French class at the university. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Advanced French/French Civilization (in French) |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Go out into Strasbourg and meet people. Even if you are just walking around, it is easy to speak to other French people and practice! |
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? | N/A |
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! |
