Beautiful France Past Review
By A student (Computer Science, Trinity University) - abroad from 01/04/2017 to 05/10/2017 with
IES Abroad: Nantes - French Language Immersion & Area Studies
My French improved enormously, and it was a fantastic experience to carry with me throughout my life.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were generally good, although coordination between IES instructors could've been better. Our exams and essays from all classes came in the same week, which made it challenging to complete everything properly and sleep. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was generally very professional and helpful. However, they had a distinctly inflexible approach to courses. Our exam schedule for one of my classes was poorly-conceived, but despite the students requesting it be changed, and the professor agreeing, she was unable to change the schedule without a review from some IES higher-ups in Chicago. This not being forthcoming, we were stuck with a poor exam schedule that included two midterms fewer than two weeks apart. On another occasion, students asked for extensions ahead of time for some essays which all fell on nearly the same dates. The administration mostly refused to allow the extensions, although some professors granted them secretly anyway. It's possible that the French don't allow extensions, but American professors generally do (under the right circumstances) and we should have been warned of this different academic culture if so. It seems to serve little purpose to force students to submit multiple long essays in multiple classes within a short time period when a few days' separation would do. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My housing experience was excellent. My host family likewise. |
| * Food: |
French food was superior to the American variety, although it took some getting used to. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My host family was lovely, but being with 40-odd other Americans certainly hurt my integration a bit. In retrospect, I would choose a program with fewer English speakers involved. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The administration was very helpful. |
| * Safety: |
Nantes is a safe city. My biggest safety complaint is a minor one: the staff were so concerned about safety that we wasted some time getting commonsense advice. Nantes is a major European city, and probably safer than most American ones. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I'd choose a program with fewer Americans. |
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) |
Nantes isn't incredibly cheap, especially its food, if you tend toward a restaurant experience. But it's manageable, especially with host families providing dinner and breakfast foods. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 60ish euros |
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 |
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| 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? | Advanced Grammar |
| 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? | Try to avoid other English speakers. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Speaking French constantly should be your priority. And French culture is significantly different from American culture. |
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.' |
