Own your experience; Make the city your own! Past Review
By Jacquelyn Anderson (University of Puget Sound) - abroad from 01/15/2017 to 04/28/2017 with
IES Abroad: Paris - Business & International Affairs
I mostly gained confidence in myself. Prior to going abroad I had never really taken public transportation or spoken French outside of French class! Going out of your comfort zone is completely worthwhile and it's incredible to see in myself how much I've grown in just half a year!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Challenging but very informative an well structured. |
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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? |
Making friends and playing soccer with a group of Parisian locals really helped in my cultural integration |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was sick my first week and the doctor came right to the apartment! |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I could have easily done another semester in Paris if I had the opportunity to. I did not want to leave and am already looking into how to get back! |
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) |
Depends on whether you eat a lot or generally make your own food |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | You can shop for sandwich ingredients at the grocery stores which can really help save money on food |
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? | 202 |
| 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? | Talk to local people! The friends that I had made in Paris were the most helpful in my French progression. I could then take what I'd learned from them (and the confidence I'd gained from talking to them) and build upon it in my French class. |
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? | Pack light! I brought way too much with me in my suitcases. |
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.' |
