SIT: Toulouse - Language, Community, and Social Change Past Review
By Abigail P (Undecided--Probably French, Creative Writing, and Italian, Tulane University) for
France Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
For a freshman, this was a great chance to go abroad. As a junior, I might not have done it. I learned incredibly about the French atmosphere and culture...
Review Photos
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Institut Catholique de Toulouse |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The program grades using the French system, and as a result, American standards were much more difficult to attain. The classroom filled with students from around the world was an incredible experience. For the seminar class, our teachers were all local professors, which enhanced the subject greatly due to their enthusiasm. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone was very friendly, helpful, and encouraging. The director and coordinator were always available to assist with American school forms and deadlines. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family made my experience. They were warm and welcoming, always willing to help, and provided a great family environment. They gave me a key to the house and treated me like a daughter. I miss them! |
| * Food: |
Find somewhere where you can bond with the shopkeepers. It feels good to be known as a "regular." |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Staying within the constraints of the group of Americans proved to be rather stressful. Try to find a way to meet other people: host siblings, classmates, or random encounters. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Pharmacies are always available, and host families and program directors understand if you don't feel well. Being out at night is always a bit more difficult, especially being female. Find someone to walk home with; it relieves some of the tension. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | The program provided 8 euros (12 dollars) for lunch each day, which is adequate. I only used around half, and saved the rest for weekend spending. Most of my toiletries I brought with me, so that didn't change anything. A phone did cost around 20 euro, or 25, 30 dollars, every two to three weeks. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The program provided 8 euros (12 dollars) for lunch each day, which is adequate. I only used around half, and saved the rest for weekend spending. Most of my toiletries I brought with me, so that didn't change anything. A phone did cost around 20 euro, or 25, 30 dollars, every two to three weeks. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 315, Advanced French Grammar |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Host families and French teachers all encourage spoken French. The classroom setting is a French-only environment. Only the group that we came with (and the program director and coordinator) spoke English, although some of the host families have an English-speaking background in one way or another. French is generally recommended. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | A student on this program has to be willing to work. The French grading system is not easy, and it doesn't translate very well into American grades (according to what we are used to). The community service was an excellent experience, but its not easy. If you work through the challenges, the reward will be all the greater. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
French Language |
| Course Department: | N/A |
| Instructor: | depended on the month |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | The courses were based on skill-level and included students from all over the world. The teachers provided many hands-on activities. Much of the subject matter focused on our interests, so that the classes reflected what we wanted to learn instead of being forced to learn. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Everything should transfer without a problem. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Culture Seminar |
| Course Department: | N/A |
| Instructor: | Varied |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | The course, taught by local professors, was a crash in everything cultural: economics, history, religion, the European Union... After, I felt as if I really understood where I was living--not only Toulouse, but France, not only France, but Europe. It was difficult due to the amount of information presented in such a short time, but provided a very strong foundation. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Everything should transfer without a problem. |
