Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Amazing immersion experience in Bordeaux July 29, 2025

By (Art History, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/04/2025 to 05/15/2025 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Bordeaux

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience was absolutely worthwhile. I most enjoyed living a college experience for a semester that is so vastly different from life at Middlebury (in a city, not living on campus). While improving my French skills, I gained a new understanding of different ways of living.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 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?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

As a Middlebury student, the Middlebury programs are (a) required if you want to live in France and (b) incredibly easy logistically to apply for and have credits transfer.

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)

Bordeaux, while relative to other french cities is considered very expensive, I found to be cheaper than most US cities. At the same time, a lot of socializing (especially in the winter) meant going to cafés which added up. Groceries, on the other hand, are relatively cheap. My biggest expense was travel.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Look for student discounts, and research online what sort of student or resident tickets you can get for free. In France, for example, almost all national museums are free to students. Also cooking for yourself is the best way to save money on food!

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

We are asked to sign a language pledge, saying we will only speak in the target language for the duration of the program. We also live and eat regularly with a french family.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
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? FREN233, History of the French Language
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • French imersion
  • The city of Bordeaux
  • more distance from school life (improved work/life balance)
* What could be improved?
  • Maybe host families don't need to be required.
  • The required Middlebury student course did not feel nescesary
  • We could have had more organized group events with the program.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Having a better understanding of how course registration works before arriving would have been helpful.

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 Adventurer
The 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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Histoire de la Famille en France à l'Époque Moderne
Course Department: History
Instructor: Stephanie Lachaud
Instruction Language: French
Comments: The teacher was very knowledgable and well-prepared for class and did feel regionally specific - the course was on modern french history - but it felt a little too niche at some times. This was the only required course for all Middlebury students in Bordeaux, despite the fact that none of us studied history at Middlebury. Because it was the only Middlebury-program specific course (all of our other courses were with french students, directly enrolled in the local university), there were only 6 of us and therefore were all active class participants. We were assesed through a combination of in-class writing assignments, presentations, and a final take-home exam. The exam was originally intended to be in-person, but due to strikes at the university of Bordeaux, the exam date had to be pushed back and made take-home.
Credit Transfer Issues: No, I did not have problems transferring credit, but that is because as a Middlebury College student, the Middlebury Schools abroad make transferring credits easy for us.