More amazing than I could have hoped for and something I will never forget. Past Review
By A student (University of St. Thomas - Minnesota) - abroad from 08/30/2017 to 12/16/2017 with
IES Abroad: Nantes - French Language Immersion & Area Studies
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience in France was absolutely worthwhile. I learned so much about the French culture, but more than anything, I gained lifelong relationships. My host family is truly family to me now. I still talk to them often, and I can't wait to go back and visit them. Beyond that I have both French friends as well as friends from the US who I still talk to regularly, am close with, and who will always mean a lot to me.
Personal Information
| 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. |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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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
I truly loved Nantes, and this program, my experiences, and the relationships I built while abroad will stay with me for the rest of my life. |
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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you have access to a kitchen, buy things you can cook yourself, rather than going out all the time. |
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 (300) level courses at my university |
| 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? | Speak as much as you can, listen to the radio, to music, watch movies, read, do anything you can to just use the language. |
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? |
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 more you use the language, the better your language skills will be. Going forward, of course, I will hold onto this, but if before I had spent more time listening to the language, watching movies, reading, or speaking with whoever I could, I would have learned so much more. Now I just have to continue doing those things. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
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