I only believe it really happened because I have pictures to prove it. Past Review
By A student (English Writing, Fairfield University) - abroad from 01/11/2012 to 05/19/2012 with
CIEE: Paris - French And Critical Studies
There aren't enough words to describe everything I learned and gained from my experience abroad. It was absolutely worthwhile and I think that anyone who has the opportunity to spend time abroad should take the chance.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
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? |
Home-stay, it worked wonderfully. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I haven't felt safer in an American city. Paris was wonderful. |
| 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) |
Paris is a relatively expensive city, but groceries weren't too expensive when you cook for yourself instead of eating out all the time. Also, I feel like it's difficult to rate this because I went abroad expecting to spend more than I would at Fairfield and had saved enough money so that I wouldn't have to hold back from indulging when I wanted to/ spending more than I would be willing to in the states. |
| * 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? | Food: 30 euro/ week, Metro/ local transportation: ~70 euro/ month, other costs vary greatly because I traveled often (to other countries) |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't blow all your money on drinking every night and going out to pubs, restaurants, etc. I watched many other students do this and consequently have to miss out on trips to other countries they wanted to go on. |
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? | 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? | French Grammar/ Composition (beyond intermediate; placed out of college level requirements) |
| 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? | No matter how much you prepare, unless you have traveled to a country that speaks the language before, at first it's going to be a little overwhelming. Just listen to as much French before you go, because really, understanding native language as it is spoken is the most difficult aspect of knowing a language. |
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? | That I would have been willing to stay and travel more by myself at the end of the program instead of going home the day the program ended like everyone else. |
