FRANCE got me out of my Bubble! Past Review
By Ernesto R (Music/French language, New Mexico State University) for
ISEP Exchange: Saint-Etienne - Exchange Program at Université Jean Monnet de Saint-Etienne
Being abroad just opened my eyes to the world around me. I am more aware of my surrounding of other cultures and it made me get interested in studying other cultures. I made tons of friends that are friends for lifetime. Working with the French and not only them but students from other countries was such a good learning experience.
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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. |
First Semester I was at CILEC(Centre International de Langue et Civilization) Their teaching method is really good. I got really fluent in French. The work load was less in France than in the USA, but we did more work in class since classes where from 9-12. They use more visual and media/tv teaching methods rather than just reading a book which helped alot. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
At the beginning it was hard to get information from the faculty because our ISEP person was on vacations but after she came back she was the best advisor ever! The international program at Universite Jean MOnnet is incredible. The teacher are nice. You get tested before being placed in your level. Teacher are understandable and try to help you in every step of your formation. The Mediatech (library) is full of resources to learn. From movies with questionaires to an awesome librarian that will assist you in anything. She is willing to tutor you and loves to say the phrase, "En Francais SVP" |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We where placed with a bunch of other international students which didn't help much with making friends with the locals and speaking french! Housing was terrible, the area was unsafe one of our friends got jumped. it was dark and people at the residence halls where unfriendly. We did talk to the President Of ISEP and she promised to place the students in a different place next year. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I made tons of friends by going out to cafes and bar. I was invited to sing in a gospel choir through some friends from church. After a week of singing in the choir I was invited to direct it. I directed the choir second semester and I was able to travel with them all over the region and participate in a gospel competition in Geneva. Other social events included concerts with the music students or hanging out in the local literature cafe were lots of interesting character meet. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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? | For france you have to pay an extra insurance around 30euros. This insurance is required before registering for school. It is actually good to have it because you get your money back if you go to the doctor or if you buy certain prescribed medicine. |
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | First of all look the courses you will be taking. Make sure they offer courses in your feel of study because I had a friend that had a hard time picking classes because they weren't relevant to her field of study. After you look into that make sure you pick a city that you would like to live in many next to mountains, the ocean, the desert! |
