Best choice for a French cultural experience Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The IES Abroad Center offers courses taught by French professors exclusively for the students in the program. These courses are all taught in French, but go at a reasonable pace for most levels. You can also choose to take classes at the local French university, or participate in a teaching internship. I learned a lot about French culture, and I loved the direct contact with French professors and local students.

On-site administration of your program

The Administration was entirely French, but loved working with American students. They were available for any questions, and took us on four different excursions in France. No major complaints about the administration! Contrary to many stereotypes, everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming to us.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Everyone on this program lives in a homestay with a French family, likely an older retired couple. I loved that I didn't have FOMO since everyone had the same situation. We could all share about what we learned from our host families, and got to improve our French significantly. This is definitely one of the highlights of the program.

This is France, so of course the food was incredible!!! Breakfast and five dinners a week with your host family are included in the program, and then lunch and the other dinners are on your own. There are lots of great supermarkets and boulangeries to have affordable options. You definitely have to have an open mind, as French food and food culture are quite different from the U.S. In Europe in general, you don't customize your food, so if you are a picky eater it is doable but be open to trying new things! I learned to love so many things I had never tried before.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Nantes is a gorgeous city with tons to offer. We went to local bars, restaurants, movies, and explored all the city had to offer. It is the perfect size and feels manageable after a couple weeks, and feels like home after a couple months.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The program assists with finding a doctor if you need one, but covering costs for any medication you may need abroad is challenging.

Nantes is a very safe city, and as a woman I felt comfortable walking in most places alone throughout the day and evening. France is infamous for protests, and there were several during our semester. As long as you use common sense, and avoid those areas, you will feel very safe.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

You have to pay for your own lunch and dinner twice a week. Some students chose to go to the grocery store and limit spending while some spent more at local cafes and bakeries. It's totally your responsibility to control your spending. It is doable if you put the effort in, but it is also very easy to get caught up in the "once in a lifetime" mentality and spend more than you initially wanted.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

In all of our classes we had to speak French and had to speak French with our host families. Yet, I was disappointed by the lack of enforcement of the "French-only" policy. We spoke English often in the IES Center which should not have been allowed, and I wish the program could think of a better incentive program for all of us to work on our French together.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans

• Homestay
• Classes at IES Center
• French culture!

• French-only policy enforcement