Parisian Wannabe Past Review
By Marian A (James Madison University) - abroad from 06/28/2012 to 05/12/2012 with
Hollins University: Paris - Hollins in Paris
the language. being and surviving on your own. being independent.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was a difficult program, but nothing more than any student could handle. They really pushed me at Hollins in Paris, but they didn't make me hate the program or keep me locked in the library for the whole semester. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It was great, the directors were amazing and were super helpful with anything the students needed. They were a little rough about getting us our schedules for trips ahead of time. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host mom. My family. There was not one thing i would change. This woman was a mom a friend... the best person i could have ever asked for. I had freedom, but she cared about me and was SO helpful with my French. She really tried to teach me French and was really good at answering any questions i had. |
| * Food: |
She was the best cook in the world. She loved to cook and would experiment. The stipend was only enough to really get a pastry, which was a bit rough. It was hard to eat a real meal for 6 or 7 euros in Paris, unless you ate the same sandwich every day... |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I wish we had had classes with other French students. I don't feel like we got to immerse ourselves with people IN France as much as i had wanted. It was hard to branch out and find time for all of the night events when we had dinner with our host families. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Good as far as i know. |
| * Safety: |
It takes getting used to, but i felt safe, unless on the metro too early or too late in he day. |
| 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) |
1. not very easily. Paris is expensive. It was ridiculous because you need toiletries and go out and want to see sites and shows, but they cost a TON there. |
| * 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? | 50 Euro |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I wasn't good at budgeting haha |
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 |
5 |
| 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? | FR 335 |
| 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? | Don't talk in english with your class mates. It's not what you are there for. Challenge yourself! |
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?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | Not much |
