Paris IV, Ecole Normale de Musique was Glorious Past Review
By Caleb S (Music Performance/Modern Languages, University of Hartford) for
IES Abroad: Paris - French Studies
Very worthwhile, gained an enormous amount of self-understanding and a sensitivity to the subtleties of culture.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Paris IV, Ecole Normale de Musique |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
| The term and year this program took place: | Spring 2010 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
In general, essays and exams are done in a very systematic way in France (at least in Paris). But everything else is basically the same as the US system. You sit in a room, listen to someone speak, learn as much as you can from said person, and study to regurgitate it. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration is really there just to do work and teach (for those of the administration that teach courses). They are not interested in students really unless there is a problem that they need to talk to a student about. It's all rather drab and officious. A couple were very very kind, but it seemed rather that you always had to approach the staff (in a foreign language no less) if you wanted to have any kind of connection with them. In other words, small talk was kept to a strict minimum. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Very nice neighborhood, very nice apartment (though the interior decorating was some kind of nightmare). Very well provided for in terms of linens and things. They allowed me to use the kitchen. |
| * Food: |
Food in the host family was strictly frozen, with either steak or chicken. Only once or twice was something nicer prepared (i.e. not frozen). I don't have dietary issues, but still found this food to be quite disgusting and poorly prepared. Where to dine for students? I would not know. Dining is rather expensive in Paris. Bread is cheap and divine though. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Going to concerts, meeting people, field trips, walking. It was all glorious. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Safety? |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Perhaps 200$ a month on food and expenses. It was mostly spent at the bakery and the bookstores though. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Visa expenses are rather irritating. |
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Don't hang out with americans, don't speak english, don't read english. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Have cultural goals for your time abroad. It is not just a semester or year to party. Don't be an average american student. Study abroad should be an extension of a student's personal and aesthetic goals and not an accessory to your "university experience". |
