Amazing semester Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/02/2017 to 07/21/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Poitiers

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
French language skills, immersion in a new culture, fantastic friends and internship experience that will serve me well.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I learned a lot!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Fairly minimal and exactly how I would have wanted it.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Amazing host family

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not use the system, never needed to

* 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? For food outside of my rent with the host family, about $20/week

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? 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? Advanced Francophone fiction class
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? Stay away from international students: you can make French friends in Poitiers!

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
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • host family
  • friends
  • internship
* What could be improved?
  • nothing, just make sure that everyone has the option of a host family
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Nothing

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Ecology

Course Department: Ecology and Biology of Organisms
Instructor: Many
Instruction Language: French
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: Didn't get major credit.
Course Name/Rating:

History of Life

Course Department: Ecology and Biology of Organisms
Instructor: Patrick Vignaud
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Amazing class: paleontology
Credit Transfer Issues: Got biology major transfer credit
Course Name/Rating:

Adaptations to the environment

Course Department: Ecology and Biology of Organisms
Instructor: Many
Instruction Language: French
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: Got biology major credit
Course Name/Rating:

17th and 18th century French history

Course Department: Letters and languages
Instructor: Vigier
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Very clear, interesting course
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Litterary theory

Course Department: Letters and languages
Instructor: Baron
Instruction Language: French
Comments: Would have been better for a literary major, but was interesting all the same
Credit Transfer Issues: