A fun and fulfilling experience that will leave you wanting more. Past Review
By A student (University of North Dakota) - abroad from 01/30/2012 to 05/25/2012 with
ISEP Exchange: Caen - Exchange Program at Université de Caen
Aside from learning a new language I was able to learn many other aspects of a new culture very different from my own. I was also able to see my own culture from an outside perspective and learn how other cultures viewed us. I was able to do a lot of traveling and see much of Europe. And I made many friends who I plan to keep in contact with through the years and continue to share stories of our time abroad.
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. |
My classes were appropriately challenging and each of us were given a probationary period to decide if your class placement was suitable for our level of experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The biggest issues were with housing and orientation, and overall communication with school administration was difficult and slow. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorm room I stayed in was nice in terms of size and amenities. The building housed many other exchange students which helped me meet a lot of people and share the experience with others. Overall the building was quiet with dedicated study rooms and entertainment rooms. Internet access was sufficient. Dorms were very conveniently located within a 5 minute walk to our classes and only a couple minute walk to the campus restaurant and sports facilities. Finally, there was a bus stop right next to the dorms which was convenient for transportation outside the campus area. |
| * Food: |
The food quality was comparable to that of the campus restaurants at my home institution and included a large variety of foods which covered all the proper food groups. Also included were some local cuisine options. Meals were cheap and the restaurant was very accessible from the dorms. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The language barrier made social interaction somewhat difficult at first although I was able to meet and socialize with a number of people from the area. We often tried to meet new people, try new foods, attend concerts movies and other cultural events, as well as travel around the region in order to get a good feel of what it is like to live i that country. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I personally had no health issues during my stay, although some other students who had illnesses spoke of the ease of access to student health care and the effectiveness of treatments administered. |
| * Safety: |
Overall I felt safe especially on campus. Some safety concerns came up throughout the semester in certain areas of town, but like any city which you are not familiar with, it is important to be out with friends and to know and avoid certain areas which you may be unfamiliar with. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
It was very easy to deal with the cost of living there. Our monthly stipend was plenty to cover the monthly cost of food. Going out to nice restaurants and bars costs a little extra but I personally felt that these extras were well within my budget. The biggest expense for me was traveling although I was able to go to many different places and remain within my budget for the semester. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | A budget is a must. It is important to stick with a budget and plan well for bigger expenses such as travel. When traveling, plan at least 2 weeks in advance. Lastly pay attention to current currency exchange rates. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Being immersed in the language, we were essentially forced to use it both in and out of the classroom. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 102 |
| 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 and spend time with people from the city which you are living. It is often easier to spend time only with people from your home country but branching out helps so much with language development. Also, although I didn't participate, students who lived with or met with host families said that their language improved immensely from that interaction alone. It also gave them the chance to interact first hand with the local culture. |
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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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had started at the language level I am at now which would have certainly helped with overall interaction and confidence in a new country. |
