Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Exploration in new ways August 11, 2022

By (History, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/04/2022 to 05/20/2022 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Bordeaux

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My French improved. I became more independent

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt that I was able to integrate with the culture, but only because of the fact that I joined a team. Otherwise, the French students could at time be a little difficult to reach out to and hang out with just given that they mostly already had their friend groups. Especially at UBM

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The Covid protocol was at times confusing but otherwise good.

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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? 232

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people
  • The place
  • My host family
* What could be improved?
  • Guidance when we showed up
  • Help with the professors
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Push yourself to make new friends

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Histoire de l’art de la Renaissance
Course Department: Histoire de l’art
Instructor: Alexia LeBuerre
Instruction Language: French
Comments: It was a good difficulty of challenging, with the classes being hard but the professor was sure to let us know that we could come to her if we needed help. I also liked the TD. The professor had a do a presentation in front of a group of French students which was stressful but ultimately I thought a useful experience.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Histoire de l’art de 19e siècle
Course Department: Histoire de l’art
Instructor: Adriana sotropa
Instruction Language: French
Comments: It was challenging but sotropa was very understanding, especially as the Erasmus director in the art history department. She was very helpful and eager to talk to us About and help us with any problems we were experiencing.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Histoire ancienne
Course Department: Histoire
Instructor: Francois cadieu, pascal celerier
Instruction Language: French
Comments: The course was challenging and we took exams with the students. The classes were interesting. However, the professor was unclear about the expectations and changed what he was requiring us to do a few times.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Français comme une langue étrangère
Course Department: French
Instructor: Anais Dubois
Instruction Language: French
Comments: The class was challenging and interesting. We had a reasonable amount of homework and she greatly improved all levels of my language skills.
Credit Transfer Issues: