Nantes: Un Semestre Incroyable Past Review
By Karen A (French and Political Science, Tufts University) - abroad from 01/11/2012 to 05/11/2012 with
IES Abroad: Nantes - French Language Immersion & Area Studies
It was absolutely worthwhile. I was so sad to leave. I made great friends, ate great food and learned a lot--not just in class, but from a new daily pattern that I got used to.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | University of Nantes IES Program Center |
| 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. |
The quality of classes at the IES center is very good; the professors care about the students, and they try to cater to Americans by having more discussions in class and bringing us to events outside of class, such as a political meeting with former French president Sarkozy. The University of Nantes classes were a mixed bag--I had one fantastic professor and one awful one, who didn't know her subject much at all. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I found the IES staff very committed to the students and would do everything they could to help us, from finding tutoring jobs to giving recommendations for where to buy something to helping us with travel plans. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I love my host family and I think the host family system is amazing. I heard similar reactions from almost everyone; we were all sad to leave our host families at the end of the semester! |
| * Food: |
Almost all host families are fantastic cooks. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
IES provides a conversation club where French students come to practice English, and we can practice our French. It was a great way to meet other French students, and often we'd go out for dinner afterwards or do things outside of the conversation club. Outside of that, though, you have to work hard to make French friends. In class at the university, you have to make the first move in terms of approaching them, but once you make French friends, they're friends for life. |
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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
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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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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
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 |
The IES center is French-only, and they enforce it as much as they can. Outside of that, it's entirely up to you--I made friends who were only interested in speaking French, but most Americans speak English among themselves. |
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 100-level French literature courses |
| 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? | Make French friends! |
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? | Don't be shy about talking to French people; they can be just as shy as you. |
