Angers, France: A Fun Learning Experience Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I really enjoyed everything I learned while in France. It sometimes seemed that the workload was not at all strenuous and it seemed easier for me there than it is in the US. But we were also required to be in class for a greater number of hours per week, so I believe that they compensated for that by giving us less homework. Their teaching methods seemed to be very similar to those that I've encountered in America and I did learn quite a lot.

On-site administration of your program

Administratively, this program was very good. If you had any problems whatsoever, you could go in and talk to them in their office. They got back to you almost immediately when you asked them a question and helped to the best of their ability. They were all native to France, so they were helpful with any questions about how their education system worked, and they seemed to be very knowledgeable about how the systems in other countries worked. If you had a question about how things might transfer, they had the ability to help. Overall, all of my expectations were met.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I greatly enjoyed the area of town that I lived in with my host family. I needed to take the bus to get to class or to go out, but I felt very safe in my neighborhood. Everything was clean and the night was well-lit. My host parents provided everything that I needed for living, like sheets and towels and such. I was not allowed to cook at all, but my host parents cooked meals for me, though I had to pay for each meal. My host family kind of treated me in between a guest and a family member, though I felt that they didn't really do much with me. But I could ask them a question about anything and they were more than willing to help me find the answer.

My host mother was an Excellent cook. I didn't want to go out to eat because she cooked so well. She was very good at accommodating my shrimp allergy and she tried to make foods that I enjoyed after trying them once. I was always more than satisfied after every meal.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I had a great time going to visit some castles with my school on two weekends during my trip. I think I would have liked to do some more things, but I did have fun and the main goal of studying in France was to actually study. There were also a few fun multicultural events arranged by my school that were very fun. We learned about many different cultures and had a great time.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Health and safety was not a concern for me whatsoever while in Angers. I didn't come across any need for medical attention and I didn't get any vaccines specifically for this program. The city was very clean and it seemed very safe to me. My host mother talked to me about how safe the community was and made sure that I knew what to do if I felt unsafe.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I could practice French with everyone. All of my classes were in French and I lived with a French host family in which my host mother did not speak any English and my host father's English was fairly limited. In everyday interactions, I was required to use French, though I think some people may have known English and they let me use French anyway. Almost everything I did was in French.

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• Host Family

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• International Students
• Host Family