An Unforgettabe Four Months In Nantes, France Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was, I thought, just right for a study abroad program. The IES Nantes staff understand that a large part of studying abroad is purely experiential: it can be just as educational to, say, learn how to order a sandwich in a bakery as to learn about a country's history in the classroom. In keeping with this understanding, the workload was not what I would call challenging. But it was also not nonexistent--a good balance. The French education system is astronomically different from the American one, and that was difficult at times. Problems cropped up particularly if American IES students chose to take classes at the Université de Nantes, which many did. American students often found that the French students were disinterested in what the professor had to say, and complained of talking amongst the students during lectures. There is also, generally speaking, a much larger distance between the professor and the students in France than there is in the States. There is no emphasis on "forming personal relationships with the students" or anything like that, which was very different. I did not take many classes at the Université, and frankly I'm glad I didn't. While I am sure that it was an eye-opening experience, the differences between the French and the American education systems seemed too great to the point that it would have been detrimental to my learning rather than conducive to it (and my grades from abroad counted toward my GPA back at my school). The IES classes were better, though, because the professors knew that we were Americans and made adjustments accordingly. The result was a mix of the French approach and the American approach that I found to be quite agreeable and effective.

On-site administration of your program

The staff at IES Nantes are seriously amazing. They are so supportive and helpful and approachable, and since the program size is so small (around 79 people), you really get to know them on a somewhat personal level. They provide a lot of structure and background information on everything so that you don't at all feel like you've been thrown into a new country unguided. They orient you really thoroughly so that you have the tools you need to do just about everything: get a bus pass, walk around the city, use the metro and the buslines, be safe at night. My expectations were definitely exceeded by the staff at IES Nantes.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

You have two options on IES Nantes: get assigned to a French host family, which the program does for you, or obtain your own housing. Most everyone chooses the former, myself included, and I am so glad I did. My family lived about ten to fifteen minutes by bus from the heart of downtown (I don't know of families who lived much further). I even walked several times, and I never felt unsafe or threatened in any way (that said, use common sense like you would in any city. Walk with friends, be alert, etc.) My neighborhood was really lovely, on a private residential street. I was right down the road from everything I needed: a post office, two grocery stores, sights to see, restaurants, etc. Most of the bars and clubs are situated in the downtown Nantes area, which was, like I said, a fifteen minute bus ride away. I didn't need to buy a single thing in terms of bedding or cookware--my host family provided all of that. I had the most wonderful experience with my host family. They were so accommodating, informative, interesting, and welcoming people. They really let me into their life and I made it a point to develop a good, lasting relationship with them. Most people on my program had good experiences with their host families, but it is my belief that you get out of it what you put into it. If it is important to you to be like a member of the family, you have to show them that by spending time talking to them, doing things with them, and getting to know them. It also helps if you let them into your own life and tell them about yourself. Ask questions, be responsive. Etc. Etc.

The stipulations of the IES Nantes program are that your host family provides 5 dinners a week and all breakfasts. The rest is up to you--most students buy groceries and bring their lunches to IES and dine out with their friends at least two nights a week. Nantes has a whole bunch of places to eat, notably in the Quartier Bouffay, and there's plenty of variety: Indian, Japanese, Italian, Turkish, and of course French (to name a few). I was a fan of the Turkish restaurant Anatole in the Quartier Bouffay...it was cheap and had the best baclava I had ever eaten. I also loved the Indian restaurant down by Place Royale (to the left of the fountain)...best Indian food I have ever had.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There is so much to see in Nantes: Les Machines de L'Ile de Nantes, the castle, the river l'Erdre, museums, Le Jardin des Plantes. There is also a lot of shopping and a lot of different areas you can explore, since the metro and bus lines are so accessible and easy to navigate. IES does a good job facilitating our exposure to culture and cultural events: they provided tickets to a movie festival and tickets to a play on two separate occasions, for instance. The field trips they took us on were also really great, the first being Mont St Michel and the second being Les Chateaux de la Loire (castles in the Loire river valley). There is also a carnival set up during the summer months called "La Fête Foraine" which is another really fun activity.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Nantes is France's sixth largest city. That being said, it's not all that large. When you become familiar with it, it seems almost small. It is still wise, though, to be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts when it comes to safety situations. The IES Nantes staff advised us to keep our belongings close at hand when out at night, and also not to sit alone near the back of the bus/metro. Walking at night is best when done with friends, especially if you're not sure of where you are. I personally never felt unsafe when I was in Nantes, but I was always cognizant of what was going on around me. In terms of healthcare, the IES Nantes staff encourage you to approach them if you ever have a health issue and need to see a doctor. Most host families are also amenable to giving you advice about where best to seek medical care. I never used the medical services, but in comparison to the American healthcare system the one in France is much cheaper and much more accessible.

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

I improved my French SO much while I was abroad with IES Nantes. They had a very firm French-only policy that really benefited everyone's language skills, and staying with French host families really expedited that process as well. They also encouraged us to speak French even with our American friends from the program. I practiced my language skills probably the most with my host parents, as they spoke no English at all. Speaking in class was also beneficial. Almost no one in Nantes speaks English, and if they do, it's only a few words, so you really get the language exposure that you need. I would even say that IES Nantes would be a difficult program if you don't already speak at an intermediate to advanced level in French.

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