IES Paris - an awesome program that I recommend Past Review
By Philip P (Rtf, The University of Texas at Austin) for
IES Abroad: Paris - French Studies
A new outlook on me, America, the world, and other people and cultures.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
| 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. |
Take advantage of your time, learn the language, don't do American things. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone was very nice and helpful. More emersion with the language. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
A villa underneith an apt building outside of paris. <br /><br /> My host stay didn't talk to much, but they were very nice. |
| * Food: |
Some misunderstandings with the homestay food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Awesome experience. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Paris has what comes along with any other big city, crime, pollution,stress, lots of people. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Live inside Paris |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 5th semester |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
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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? | Take advantage of the country you are in, don't do the American thing or hang with the American people. Go out and find out what the country and the language is about. Push yourself in learning new things. It will be hard at first but you will take out so much of it if you try and learn. The overall experience will be with me for the rest of my life. Challenge yourself, push beyond your boundaries and just do it while you have the chance, you will not regret it. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
History of France and Civilization |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Very very hard, but interesting. One of the books was way to hard for begining french speakers. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Peintre Plastique |
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| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Very much based on independant work. |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Paris Francophone |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Interesting but the laid back atmosphere made it difficult to know what to study. Teacher very cool. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
French Culture and Language |
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| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Instructor was awesome, very interesting topics, make sure you are active. |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Cinema Francais |
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| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | Favorite course, instructor and material were awesome. Take this class. |
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