Aix is amazing!!! Past Review
By A student (Strategic Communications, University of Denver) - abroad from 09/10/2012 to 12/19/2012 with
Institute for American Universities (IAU): The School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Aix-en-Provence, France
Go with the flow and enjoy every moment while you're there - it goes by so much faster than you realize! I appreciate French culture norms a lot more than I did before. Without a doubt so worthwhile - why NOT study abroad??!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Great courses, although not very challenging. Was glad to take courses in French. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The woman in charge of housing and doctor's appointments, missed an appointment I had made to go to a dr with her. It worked out fine in the end but was still pretty rattling. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host mom!!! Such a good location, she took really good care of me and my housemate and made DELICIOUS food |
| * Food: |
You're in France. How could the food get any better? |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I didn't feel like I made any faux-pas but didn't feel very connected with the local town, either. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I went on my own to the doctor and the appointment was fine. However, I had no idea what the etiquette was and was very confused the whole time. The pharmacies are the best place to get medicine for anything you need! |
| * Safety: |
More homeless people and gypsies than I had expected but I never felt unsafe, even at night. |
| 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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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 |
I was in the French Honours Program, so in my homestay we spoke 100% French and in all my classes. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 3000-level literature classes |
| 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? | Talk to local people in store, cafés, schools all the time!!! |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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? | 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? | Everything is going to be okay. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
