Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

IES Abroad, French Studies Spring 2015- An amazing experience! Past Review

By (International Studies, Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 01/12/2015 to 04/30/2015 with

IES Abroad: Paris - French Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learnt a lot about not only the french culture during my time in Paris but also about myself. It was an incredible experience that has inspired me to move back to Europe to attend graduate school.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses were less rigorous than at my home university, which was beneficial because it meant I had more free time to experience Paris!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

All of the staff were really friendly and helpful!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved my home-stay it was a great way to experience french culture!

* Food:

Obviously french food is incredible, however, food in Paris is incredibly expensive. Baguettes and Cheese are very cheap though!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

By having a knowledge of french I feel like I integrated well into my arrondissement and by the end of the program I felt comfortable making friends with french students speaking only in French.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health related incidents while in Paris and I did not need any vaccines specifically for the program.

* Safety:

Paris, for a capital city is generally very safe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Paris was an expensive city to live in. However by the end of the program I was able to budget very efficiently.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook your own meals!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

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

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? 300 Level
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? Listening to french music before and during your study abroad trip is a great way to always have the french language in your ear, as well as practice your comprehension skills !

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • Academic Rigor
  • No Friday Classes
  • Helpfulness of IES Staff
* What could be improved?
  • Relations between IES and outside institutions
  • Course offerings
  • Program Cost
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew to pack less in my suitcase! I ended up shopping a lot because I realized my clothes, which are suitable for where I live in the US, didn't match the Parisian style and I ended up buying a lot of new clothes which made it hard to fit everything in my suitcase to take home!

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.