Be flexible, persevere, take advantage of every moment without fear! Past Review
By A student (French Language and Literature., Linfield College) - abroad from 09/07/2014 to 12/21/2014 with
France Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
I learned an incredible amount of French culture, not only from my classes but from daily life as well. It pushed me to learn how to communicate in different ways and to better explain things. It also, as cliché as it may sound, pushed me out of my comfort zone, necessitating that I learn how to navigate a different kind of city and society rather on my own. I also got a clean slate while I was there – no other students from Linfield came with me – so I was able to start fresh. Sometimes it was a bit hard, to not have anyone that knows you be there for support, but I learned to find new supports and relationships. I didn't know how to use this at first, falling back into my old rut, but after vacation, when our semester was half over, I really pushed to take advantage of my time there. I didn't make that many relationships when I was there, but as the French say about friends, its quality over quantity. I got pretty close to my language partner, a French university student, and now we still talk to each other on skype, and hope to see each other again soon. I'd have to say my semester was extremely worthwhile. It's hard to put into words why, or what I gained by it, but perhaps I can just say that I gained an adventure. I gained an experience that was wholly mine, that shoved me into a foreign place and made it become familiar. I gained friends and relationships in a "world" that is outside mine that I can visit again. I have been ruined, in that I can no longer think of America as being my reality, all that I've known, and then the rest of those countries a blurry mirage that are somewhere "over there." I have gained awareness, a taste of all that other which is different to me. I have gained... a door into the world.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors were engaging and funny, they gave a lot of worthwhile information and were more than willing to help students and answer questions. |
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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? |
It was fun but challenging to live with a host family. It's not the most comfortable getting used to another family's rules, but it's a wonderful cultural learning experience– you not only learn French culture first-hand from your family, but about yourself and your own culture from the differences you encounter. |
| * Food: |
French food is of course always great. Breakfast and 5 dinners a week are provided by your host family, and then you get to explore on your own for lunches and the two other dinners. You can either get some "fast-food" like a kabab, a crêpe, or a pizza-frite, or go to a large smattering of other restaurants. To save money and to experience more of what Aix has to offer, many students, myself included, went to the local market and to Monoxprix for fresh produce and other ingredients, and made their own lunches in the AUCP student kitchen. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Just because of my own personality and initial shyness, I didn't make that many French friends or go out that much, but I got pretty close with my language partner, and felt really included when I was with her. That was especially true when she invited me to spend the weekend at her grandparents' house in Marseille. I also felt rather integrated when my host family invited me to dinners and family parties, and when I would go to the market by myself. Overall I think there was ample opportunity to become rather integrated, but I didn't quite take advantage of all of it. But that's why I encourage you who read this to "Profitez!" (make the most of your time!) |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I personally didn't have any issues with health care, but we had insurance through Linfield, as well as a special program and access to a local doctor through the AUCP. I know that a few people went to the doctor for colds, and it seemed to turn out well. |
| * Safety: |
I felt that walking around the city alone during the day, even being a girl, was pretty safe, because there are so many people around, and often tourists too. There are definitely certain people that you want to avoid, as in every city, but overall I felt self most everywhere I went. Safety wasn't an issue for me: so long as you're aware of of your belongings and your surroundings you should be fine. But to be safe I would recommend traveling with at least another person at night, or late at night, especially when walking around the smaller and darker streets. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Aix is one of the most expensive cities in France, so going out to eat a lot can be expensive. But making your own lunches really helps–If you eat modestly you can buy a week's worth of lunches for under 20 Euros. Entertainment, like going to a café or a bar is not too expensive if you get coffee or a simple drink (maybe1.50 to 1.80 Euros for a coffee and 3.50 to 5 Euros for a beer). |
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 |
At the AUCP, you sign a language contract which says that you will speak French, only French, and nothing but French, even with classmates, or you can be sent home. The staff is pretty strict about this, but sometimes English slips over the bow, and they're not going to penalize you for a few words. But after a while, you just want to speak French because it becomes your natural, daily language. |
| 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 302 at Linfield. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Studying vocabulary, such as words that you would encounter in daily life are definitely helpful, but don't get too caught up or stressed out by studying. Get some rest before you come, because you'll definitely be under some stress when you go through culture shock, and you'll be studying at school. Well getting ahead is good, don't burn yourself out before you really need your strength. |
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 that I knew how short three and a half months really is. |
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! |
