ISA in Paris, so good, I can't wait to return to Paris. Past Review
By Amanda G (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., The College of William and Mary) for
ISA Study Abroad in Paris, France
Studying abroad was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in my life. I never thought it would be so incredible and that I would fall so in love with a country. I would not have traded my experience for anything, and can't wait to return to Paris.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was total French language immersion and used lecture, discussion, group work, and sound/ video components. Grading was stricter but I still did very well. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Knowledgeable, helpful and friendly staff who were experts on the country. My only hesitation is that some people ran into problems with them- placing people in housing with smokers without telling them or offering to move them, etc. Also, it was very expensive. But worth it. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was small, but comfortable and in a safe area. It wasn't very Parisian, however (it was Chinatown!) and was far away from the city center. |
| * Food: |
My host family was considerate of me and my roommate being vegetarians, and they tried, although they weren't the greatest cooks. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We went on organized trips - overnight trip to Normandy and the Loire Valley, a trip to Versailles, and a night at the opera. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe (in terms of disease and crime) during my stay. The only thing to worry about really was pick-pocketing, but I was conscientious and managed to avoid it. |
| 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? | Try to skimp and save at the beginning so you have more money at the end. Shop for food at grocery stores further out from the center of the city and save a ton! I forgot to factor into my budget public transportation - about $85 per month. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | none |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I lived with a host family, so I spoke only in French with them. I also spoke French to most everyone I interacted with. Most people knew at least a little English, but I tried to speak French with them as often as possible. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I think anyone would enjoy this program, and it was very good even for people, like me, who had no experience with the language or traveling abroad. |
