Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Paris: One of best experiences ever! Past Review

By (International Studies, Rochester Institute of Technology) for

CIEE: Paris - Summer Contemporary Music Creation + Critique

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes, my study abroad experience was worthwhile because I've learned and embraced so much through the program that it made me a better person for who I am.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

CIEE in Paris provides education with high quality and high expectations for serious students to excel at. CIEE provides many classes with many different teachers so therefore their teaching methods differ from each other. Their courses are easy to adapt with in first week so you'll go along with your course in no time. Workload depends on which courses you're taking.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Honestly, from what I've heard about other host country programs, it seems that CIEE has several strengths including providing support services to all who needed it, ability to get things done on time such as arraigning weekend trips to other cities and following schedules on time, willing to share the knowledge of host country by providing you a French partner who can help you to get to know Paris better, etc. CIEE has the flexibility of accommodating your needs to ensure that you have the best quality experience of all.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Throughout Paris, there are many great restaurants to dine at. I've tried escargots, veal, and many other French cuisine with high satisfactory rate. You can buy your own dinner through public markets, supermarkets, etc at a cheap rate as long as you know how to budget your money very well. Other than that, I didn't give food category the last star because you get "free" tickets to a cafe for lunch covered by CIEE and you'd have to go there everyday to eat food. It gets boring after few days especially when you're the one who has to stay there for two months. It would be nice if CIEE gives you meal tickets to different cafes in different weeks.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There are so many memories to start with. I've been in Paris for two months and I've experienced many cultural events and attractions everyday including Bastille Day, weekend trips to Nice, Dijon, Normandy, Reims, etc.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

It's safe to be around in Paris as long as you are doing the best to blend in and keep to yourself so people will start to see you as a French person rather than an American tourist. Just be street smart about it. During my stay, I've witnessed nothing criminally. But remember this: Paris is famous for picking a pocket due to its heavy tourist area so be sure to keep your valuables in front of you. Don't trust anyone who comes up to you in the heavy tourist area, like giving you friendship beads, etc. They're scammers. Overall, as long as you are being smart about your safety, you'll just do fine!

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Language

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Open your mind and you'll be surprised with what you will discover through studying abroad. Immerse in their culture, embrace it as if it was your own and you'll get the best experience out of all. This program is recommended for serious students with high ambitions and expectations.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

French Sign Language.
Course Department:
Instructor: Moez Biddai and Victor Abbou.
Instruction Language: French Sign Language.
Comments: French Sign Language was the best course I've ever taken. It puts an emphasis on learning French Sign Language daily induced by heavy exposure to deaf culture in Paris. Over three weeks, I've learned so much and become nearly fluent in sign language. If I had a chance, I'd take an opportunity to learn French Sign Language all over again. Be sure to have Moez Biddai and Victor Abbou as your teachers because they're the best teachers ever.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Paris in French Literature
Course Department:
Instructor: Derek O'Rogan
Instruction Language: English.
Comments: Paris in French Literature focuses on reading literature that has the setting of Paris in the background of the story. We had to read three books set in three different centuries. The teacher was well knowledgeable and prepared for the course but his method of teaching is different from what we had expected. His teaching style is more related to the structure of lecturing which can go on and on for hours. The best part is weekly field trips that allowed us to explore Paris in relation with literature.
Credit Transfer Issues: