Amazing cultural immersion and highlight of my summer Past Review
By Siqi Zhou (Northwestern University) - abroad from 06/18/2018 to 07/28/2018 with
IES Abroad: Arles Summer – Study in Provence
language skills and local cutlure. Definitly worthwhile!
Review Photos
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. |
passionate professors! |
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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? |
I am still in touch with my host family in Arles, they were super welcoming and willing to tell me everything about Arles and France! |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Arles is small but definitely a tight-knit community |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The program was exactly what I have expected and the teachers and my classmates were also all amazing and talented. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It'd be a great idea to plan how much money you would like to spend each week and keep track of all of your receipts and enter them into an excel sheet. |
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 love how the director of the program encouraged us to speak french all the time. |
| 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? | 303 Advanced French Conversation |
| 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? | not to be afraid to say something wrong, people in Arles are super nice to help you correct; and try to not speak English with classmates. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | The pre-departure brochure provided by IES was super helpful and I learned everything that I needed to know. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
