Extremely Challenging but Rewarding Past Review
By A student (Davidson College) - abroad from 09/03/2018 to 12/21/2018 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Paris
If I have to, I can survive taking five classes at the Sorbonne in French, which made me feel extremely independent and as if I can do almost anything if I need to
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Was extremely rigorous, five non-language courses in French |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Le Centre Madeleine was excellently located and suitable |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Extremely racist host family but couldn't have lived in a nicer apartment or area (Neuilly-sur-Seine, Avenue Charles de Gaulle) |
| * Food: |
There is nothing better than French cuisine |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
was very difficult to integrate in one of the largest cities in the world but I made French friends |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
My physical checkup in order to play basketball was free |
| * Safety: |
Had to be careful around les Gilets Jaunes but just used common sense, was tear gassed once as a spectator and then did not go outside on Saturdays again |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I would rather go to Middlebury in Bordeaux- living in a city as big as Paris was tiring and intimidating |
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) |
Paris is incredibly expensive |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~$90 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | if you can, live in an apartment so you can cook for yourself |
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 |
signed language pledge forbidding me from speaking English |
| 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? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | FRE335 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Watch videos my French YouTubers- they talk like the average French person |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | There is a massive difference between being really good at a language and being fluent in it |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
