How can you sum it up in one line? Past Review
By Kevin K (English/French, Truman State University) - abroad from 09/03/2012 to 12/21/2012 with
L'Universite Catholique de l'Ouest / Catholic University of the West: Angers - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Where do I start? It think the primary thing is perspective. Most Americans have nothing other than a strictly American perspective: this is not the case with other countries. We're a country often perceived as ignorant, and unfortunately it's often true. Getting out of my paradigm and seeing life from the other side of the world was really life changing. I was surprised to find many things that I though universal were really just American. Studying abroad can be pretty revolutionary. Also, many people know that the world is different. We can read international news and acquire knowledge. Experiencing something, however, is a completely different phenomenon than mental acknowledgement. It was worthwhile. I'll remember the adventures I experienced, the friendships I made, and the kindness I witnessed. I'll remember struggles, the frustrations, and the disappointments as well. Fortunately the pleasant far outweighed the unpleasant, and both sides fostered growth.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors were very good, but adjusting to the French education system was a bit difficult. I wish that there was more homework and less 4-hour long exams. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
In general, French life is marked by both bureaucracy and implicitness. Although this is very difficult for foreigners, the on-site administration did a good job of easing us into it. Although there were some headaches, the program staff was quite helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I am absolutely satisfied with the quality of my living arrangements, but I gave four stars because I wished I was in a university residence. Although I loved my house, its distance from the university was a bit of a hindrance. Although I had plenty of space and privacy, I would strongly recommend to any potential student to try to live in a dorm. As the year progresses, school work gets more difficult and weather gets worse. Being social is more difficult, so those living in a university residence have an advantage. Also, the residences are occupied by mostly French students, so it would have been a great opportunity to practice speaking. |
| * Food: |
I love the food culture in France. It is a vital part of the French life. This reveals itself in restaurants (awesome!) as well as grocery stores. The selection in supermarkets is in generally healthier and better-tasting: little artificial flavoring, high-fructose corn syrup, or trans fat. Organic food is also more common and relatively cheap compared to the US. Produce is often fresh and locally grown. I love it. Although fish is more plentiful here (relative to where I'm from at least), meat in general costs more. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I already spoke French fairly well and I was lucky enough to make French friends, so I had pretty good time--many aren't so lucky. It's easy to integrate into the student culture, but I wouldn't call that the local culture. The French aren't exactly known for their heart-warming openness and friendliness towards strangers. You really have to work for the relationships you build here, and I think that makes them more sincere and valuable. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't really have any experience with French healthcare, so my rating doesn't hold much weight. I do know that the university has a health center to help with all sorts health issues/questions. |
| * Safety: |
As a male from the US, I don't think I ever once felt unsafe. I've heard that there are some seedier areas in Angers, but I've never seen them. The only main potential danger I can conceive of would be on the roads: just be wise. |
| 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) |
With the exchange rate, everything is more expensive. That's part of studying abroad though, so it didn't really surprise or bother me. I've known I would study abroad for quite a while, so I also had a fair amount of money saved and set aside. Money wasn't too big of a concern for me. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I'm not sure. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Get a train discount pass if you know you're going to be doing a lot of traveling. Be smart with your food: don't eat in restaurants all the time, buy and cook in large amounts and live off leftovers, don't go grocery shopping when you're hungry. |
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 |
I was mainly studying French. All of my classes were in French except for an English class I took for fun. |
| 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? | Probably French Composition and Conversation II |
| 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? | Change all of your computer settings to the language you're studying; subtle things like that help. If you're spending your whole day on English Facebook, it's going to erode your learning. Read the newspaper whenever you can. Make an effort to be around native speakers, and absorb their accent. Speak in the language and actively work to improve your accent. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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 knew more about the academic structure: what the schedules look like, how the work is different, etc. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
