Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

challenging but rewarding and fun Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/02/2018 to 05/20/2018 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Paris

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
i learned a lot about myself and gained a lot of language skills

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?

* 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

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? 140 euros

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? a 300 level french course
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? live with a host family

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
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?
  • my host family
  • the people i met through my program
  • the independence yet aid from the midd center
* What could be improved?
  • help getting in contact with universities during strike
  • more contact between midd center and local universities
  • registration at local universities
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? how much we would have to figure things out on our own

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

French Grammer level 1
Course Department: Centre Madeleine
Instructor: Patrick Guedon
Instruction Language: french
Comments: It was challenging and helped me go over grammar structures I had forgotten about or was misusing
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

French Renaissance Monarchy
Course Department: Centre Madeleine
Instructor:
Instruction Language: french
Comments: I learned a lot about the history of the french monarchy and how to write history essays in french
Credit Transfer Issues: i used this as a transfer credit for my french major as a french culture course
Course Name/Rating:

Silk Screen Printmaking
Course Department: Paris 1
Instructor:
Instruction Language: french
Comments: the instructor was understanding of me being international. he explained how to print in the beginning and then just let us work during class
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Personal Creation
Course Department: Paris 1
Instructor:
Instruction Language: french
Comments: the method of evolution was very unclear and i constantly felt lost. i also did not have any studio space to work in the paris 1 building so i was forced to paint at my host mom's house
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

decorative arts, fashion, and design
Course Department: paris 1
Instructor:
Instruction Language: french
Comments: despite being a little boring, i learned a lot about decorative arts from 1800-the present. the instructor was understanding of me being international
Credit Transfer Issues: