EDUCO-A Wonderful Introduction to Paris!! Past Review
By Megan M (French Language and Literature., Cornell University) - abroad from 01/08/2012 to 05/31/2012 with
EDUCO: Paris - EDUCO in Paris
I learned how different the French are from Americans, even though our cultures share many elements. Everything from their way of speaking to their sense of humor and hand gestures are very different, and I loved seeing this play out and being able to communicate more as a fluent French speaker than as someone who had only learned French in a classroom setting.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Paris 7 EDUCO |
| 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. |
I did not find the classes at Paris 7 to be particularly challenging compared to the ones that I am used to at Cornell. I much preferred the classes I took through the EDUCO program, which had a well-stocked reference library and several helpful staff members. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The EDUCO staff were incredibly warm and welcoming, and they were always willing to help us with any problems that came up! They were phenomenal! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with a host family that sometimes made me feel like an imposition on them and their daily lives. I would have preferred to have had more open communication and more clear-cut rules while I lived with them. |
| * Food: |
My host father was a professional chef, so even though my host family was only required to provide 3 dinners each week, every single one was quite delicious. It was also easy to get very high quality food in cafes and restaurants around the city, and the grocery stores were well-stocked with items that I am used to eating in the US and even some more obscure ingredients (for example, Sriracha sauce). |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Since I can be rather shy, I found that I developed much stronger friendships with the Americans in my program than with any of the French students that I met. I did go to a large number of museums and cultural events, but I was usually with a group of Americans and did not feel completely immersed in the French culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
My program was very helpful in referring certain health resources, however they proved to be very expensive and did not fully address my needs. |
| * Safety: |
I lived in a quiet and residential area so I usually felt very safe, but I think it is very important to be familiar with the seedier areas of Paris and to know what to avoid (the areas around Montmartre/Sacre Coeur, Pigalle, anything near the Peripherie without many people around). |
| 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) |
I tried very hard to save money before studying abroad, but Paris is VERY expensive and I had to ask my parents for financial support about mid-way through the semester. I found it difficult to go out, especially on weekends, and stay on budget at the same time. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 60 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to eat (and drink) out as little as possible, as groceries and store-bought alcohol are much cheaper than buying the same items at restaurants, cafes, or bars. Also, plan well if you want to go out at night! The metro closes relatively early and taxis are very expensive, so it is always a good idea to head home early on the metro, get a velib pass and bike home, or arrange to stay at a friend's house for the night rather than paying for a taxi. |
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 |
I took all of my classes in French, spoke to the program administrative team in French, and communicated with my host family in French. Strong language skills are definitely a must for participation in this program. |
| 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? | Advanced French Stylistics |
| 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? | Try to read and especially speak as much as possible!! Reading will help your grammar and written work, and speaking is essential for cultivating your accent and vocabulary. |
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 knew how expensive Paris would be! I would have saved way more money before traveling if I had known about all the spending temptation (museums, shopping, food, etc.) that surrounds you while you are there. |
