Simply delightful, and amazing! A semester as an American in Paris! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

A most amazing and wonderful program! I most highly recommend IES Abroad Paris to anyone considering studying in France’s capital city of Paris. When I began my search for an abroad program, I looked online, I talked to my adviser and I attended my university’s study abroad fair in the fall. I just kept being drawn to the IES program and I am so glad that I chose to go abroad with them. Before arriving in Paris, my IES adviser in Chicago contacted me and answered any and all of my crazy questions. They walked me through how to go about applying for a student visa and then what to expect upon arrival in my host country. I felt very prepared. I read all of the information provided by IES and received my housing placement about three weeks before my departure. I was super nervous at first, but then everything just kind of fell into place. I arrived in Paris and moved in with my host parents, who were some of the coolest people in the city! The housing coordinator had matched us up perfectly and they really helped me to integrate into French culture. The entire staff at IES Abroad Paris includes some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet and no question is ever too dumb or too weird to ask. Believe me; I’m sure I must have asked some. I was able to tour different parts of France with the trips organized by IES as well as take classes at a French university where I could truly immerse myself in the culture. The IES Abroad Paris program is simply delightful and I just wish I could do it all over again!

On-site administration of your program

The on-site administration was exceptional! For orientation they really walked us through everything from showing us how to use the metro effectively, to living with our host families, to getting ourselves immersed in French culture. The staff at the abroad center was always so kind and supportive whenever we had questions.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I absolutely loved my host parents! I had asked to be matched with a host family in Paris instead of living in an apartment so that I would have more opportunities to speak french and really learn about the culture and the IES Abroad Paris housing coordinator matched my host parents and I up perfectly and all of my friends felt the same way.

With this program we were allowed three dinners per week and breakfast daily with our host families. We figure out which days we would have dinner together at the beginning of each week and then I would normally either cook or have dinner with friends the other nights. Actually it worked out quite well because it gave a lot of freedom, but at the same time a lot of family interaction as well, which was nice. The IES center also organized a few dinners at fancy restaurants throughout the semester for arrival, Thanksgiving (since I went in the fall) and departure. The dinners were always very elegant and very french :)

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I really felt like part of the community in France, however I have to say that I actively looked for many of the things I did. I had to be careful not to end up staying in the "American bubble", as I call it, speaking english and only going out with the other American study abroad students. I went on trips with my host parents, joined their church and their church choir and became a part of the youth group at the french university that I decided to attend.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had read over the health care plan that we were provided with before leaving for France and it looked quite good, but luckily I never had to deal with issues like that, so I can't really speak for that much.

Overall I felt very safe in the city of Paris and the IES center prepared us very well for our semester there. They gave us advice both before leaving and during orientation. It's a big city though, so just be careful where you go at night and make sure you look like you know where you're going.

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

I mean, it was Paris so things are naturally more expensive, not to mention that they use the euro which is stronger than the dollar, but overall I was able to make it. I had to budget though for my cell phone bill and my metro pass each month. As far as lunch goes though, I was able to find university restaurants which serve really good food and aren't too expensive because France is rather student friendly.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Speaking french was "highly encouraged" throughout the program, however I did have to work quite hard to not speak to any of the other American students in English. We were expected to speak French in class, however between classes the students would often speak English and the staff would speak English if they really wanted to make sure that we understood something, which was good sometimes depending on one's level of French.

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• My amazing and supportive host family!
• The support and care that we were given by the abroad center staff
• The trips and excursions planned by the abroad program

• The french language encouragement

The Academic or Linguist