I would definitely do it again!!! Past Review
By A student (Anthropology., Truman State University) - abroad from 06/01/2012 to 07/16/2012 with
Institute for American Universities (IAU): The School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Aix-en-Provence, France
I feel like I have grown more confident in myself from this experience. I also feel like I am more connected to the world.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I really enjoyed my host family, they were very nice and very helpful. |
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
People could still tell I was American at times, mostly shopkeepers though. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
It was easy to tell which places you weren't supposed to go to. I always traveled with other people, so I always felt safe. |
| 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) |
It was easy with a host family, since food was provided and you could buy snacks and souvenirs |
| * 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? | Around 30-50 euros, when more than just food was being bought |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy train tickets early, plan trips ahead of time, know how much you are spending. Don't always buy something on impulse, you might find it much cheaper at a farmers market |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
There were plenty of vendors who knew some English, but they liked to hear students speaking French |
| 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 325 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | My host mom had me fill out grammer exercise books for kids. I could show her what I knew and she could correct me if I got anything wrong. They were fun too! |
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 did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How the structure of France is different from America, as well as how strong the euro is compared to the dollar |
