Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Transformative, Immersive Experience Past Review

By (Gettysburg College) - abroad from 09/03/2018 to 12/19/2018 with

IES Abroad: Paris - French Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a much greater appreciation for the importance of experiencing and embracing other cultures and languages.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

All of my IES Abroad professors were very experienced, and ran classes that effectively taught students in French, who often had very different French levels.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administrative team was very supportive of students throughout our time in France, from academics to housing and everything in between!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed with a home-stay family, and they were absolutely wonderful! I was able to practice my French every day, and experience French culture first hand.

* Food:

My host family cooked me 3 dinners a week, and often invited me to more. They also provided food for breakfast, and allowed me to store food for other meals, and use the kitchen for my cooking needs.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Between living with a host family and taking classes at a French university, I felt absolutely immersed!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

My program helped me find a dermatologist who would prescribe the same drugs I had been taking in the US, so there was no gap in my treatment.

* Safety:

There were a few large protests in Paris during my time there, but IES Abroad was excellent about warning us about areas to stay away from, and metro lines that might be closed.

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

I had an excellent experience with IES Abroad

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 is a very expensive city, and eating out, taking uber, or shopping adds up quickly! I learned to cook at my home stay and take the metro everywhere!

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? Buy groceries instead of eating out, walk anywhere you can, (you'll also learn your city much quicker!), and find the cheap or free arts and culture scene!

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

There were several incentives that IES Abroad gave us to encourage us to use French 100% of the time, but the "language pledge" we took felt very non-binding, and it was difficult to speak French with my American friends.

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
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? Meet some locals! You will have to speak your target language with them. Invite them to hang out with your English-speaking friends too--that way everyone has to use the only common language, and you all improve and learn together!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Enrollment at outside universities
  • Host family living situation
  • Meeting other passionate French student
* What could be improved?
  • Academic Advising
  • Language Pledge
  • Dividing French Levels into Classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How to pack and budget for living in an incredibly fashionable and fairly expensive large city!

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!