Challenging, but Unforgettable and Past Review
By A student (Carthage College) - abroad from 01/09/2016 to 05/08/2016 with
France Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
I learned that you can make a "home away from home." You have a chance to make lasting relationships abroad with locals while improving your language skills at the same time.
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. |
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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? |
The host family aspect really helped with the full immersion experience. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
AUCP required us to get involved in community service, have an extracurricular activity, and have a language partner. All of these aspects really helped us integrate into the local culture along with our host family stay. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Aix and AUCP went over safety precautions at the start of the program. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I really thought the host family aspect was important and the requirements of joining an extracurricular group was key for me. I was able to not only improve my language skills with the people I met, but also open myself up more to the new culture I was experiencing outside of the classroom setting. |
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 found that overall Aix was an expensive city, but I think it was possible to save money depending on where you chose to eat out and what activities you chose to spend your money 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 |
AUCP requires students to sign a contract at the beginning of the semester saying that we will speak French the whole time. I felt the program did enforce this contract throughout the whole semester. Living with a host family really enforced the language use as well. |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Speak the language as much as you can with your host family and with any friends (locals) that you make while abroad and ask them to correct you. |
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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| 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? | It takes time to get adjusted to a whole new lifestyle, but you will adjust! Don't worry so much, just enjoy and take in the new experience and culture because the semester abroad goes by very fast. |
