The best experience ever! July 30, 2025

By A student (Global Security, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/06/2025 to 05/13/2025 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Paris

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

l Iearned how much I enjoy exploring new places. Whether alone or with friends, I loved being outside and walking the streets of wherever I was. I like going to museums, festivals, art exhibitions, shopping, trying new restaurants, and everything else. My abroad experience also gave me the courage to try new things alone and just enjoy being where I was in that moment.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	I found my French language class rather unsatisfactory, as well as the courses I took at the French University. However, my thematic course with Middlebury was fantastic. The professor was excellent, engaging, and deeply cared about the subject matter.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I had the most amazing host family. I truly could not have asked for a better experience. It was the best decision I made about my abroad experience, and I would recommend living with a host family.
* Food:	The food was fantastic all over the city, and especially with my host family. I tried so many new foods, and it was one of the highlights of exploring the city.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	The students at my French university showed little interest in befriending the American students in their program. However, I felt integrated into the neighborhood where I was living.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	The healthcare system was so easy to navigate. I quickly found an appointment with the help of the Middlebury staff and had no issues in communicating with the doctor or dealing with insurance. In my opinion, it was much easier to navigate than the system in the United States, and it was also less expensive.
* Safety:	I had no safety-related issues.
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)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Make a budget using the resources Middlebury provides. Expect the unexpected and plan. Traveling costs more than you think it will.

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	The program required complete language immersion.
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?	0350
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?	Work on your conversational spontaneity before arriving.

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 International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?	0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Living with a host family. Exploring the city of Paris. My thematic course.
* What could be improved?	Excursions hosted by Middlebury. Prioritizing the abroad experience over the number of courses required. The orientation experience.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Studying abroad in Paris very much involves the student aspect of being abroad. Academics are going to take up a large portion of your time, especially due to the number of courses you are required to take in order to get credit back at Middlebury in Vermont. If you are looking for a program that is more about traveling and learning about the local culture rather than attending university, this is not the program for you.

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 Linguist You 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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Advanced French
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	French
Comments:	It was not challenging or engaging and the methods of evaluation were unclear.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No.

Course Name/Rating:	EU: Socialization of Conflicts
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	French
Comments:	The course was so interesting, and the professor was excellent. It was my favorite course I took abroad.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No.

Course Name/Rating:	Problems of Economic Developmt
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	French
Comments:	This class was difficult. I do not have much background in economics, and it was essentially an introduction to economics course. This course was at the Sorbonne Nouvelle and had many more students than courses at Middlebury. I also could not hear the professor very well during lectures, which made the experience much more difficult.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No.

Course Name/Rating:	Comparative Histories of National States
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	French
Comments:	I enjoyed this class very much. This class was at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University. The professor was engaging, and the subject matter was interesting.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No.

Course Name/Rating:	European Social Space
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	French
Comments:	This course was easier than the other ones I took at the Sorbonne Nouvelle, but I did not enjoy it.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No.

Course Name/Rating:	Europe & its Nations 1914-1945
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	French
Comments:	This course was incredibly interesting and intense.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No.