Complete Immersion: Learn how to swim or drown. Past Review
By Audrey B (Psychology And French, Tulane University) for
France Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
Yes, it was completely worthwhile.
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. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Those who work at the office are very capable of fixing any problems that come up. They were flexible and helpful. Program size was good, could be bigger but it was fine as is. Most people who worked there were familiar with cultural/ educational differences between French and Americans. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I LOVED my host family. They were absolutely amazing. They went above and beyond any expectations I had. I could walk to school and into town, which was so convenient. I felt very safe in Aix, not as safe when I was in Marseille. The host family provided everything, sheets, bed, etc. And I'm sure if I had been missing anything they would have gotten it for me in a second. They treated me as a member of the family: we had dinner together every night, we watched movies together, we went on weekend trips to Barcelona, the Alpes, St. Tropez, Marseille, etc. together, they brought me back gifts the times they went on vacation without me. They were the greatest! |
| * Food: |
My host mom was the greatest cook ever! They did force me to eat a lot of fois gras though haha. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program took us on great weekend trips to Provincal towns, which were amazing, and I made really great French friends, we ended up all going to Amsterdam together one of our last weekends in France, there were 8 of our French friends and 4 of us Americans there, it was super fun. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Aix-en-Provence is very safe. Never got sick but I'm sure they would have taken good care of me if I did, as France has the most highly rated health care in the world. |
| 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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Things aren't really that much more expensive in France, you just have to know where to look. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Added visa costs within the last month of program, like 80 dollars. Traveling is really expensive too, and bus passes, for those who got them, can get pricy. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 321 Intro to Literature |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Everyone. I spoke French with my host family, professors, french friends, other american students, people I met in town, etc. You absolutely need to have a strong basis in French in order to get the most out of the experience. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This program is sadly not for most Americans. Most Americans can't free their minds from their own culture and be able to embrace a new one. Most Americans hardly even know what culture is. It's not that you have to know that much about any other culture going into it, but you do need to have tried to separate your culture from yourself the best you can and reevaluate how you live, starting by knocking out the entire building blocks on which you have always based your beliefs and habits. |
