Toulouse: A college student oriented city with family politics Past Review

By (IPE, Fordham University) for

SIT Study Abroad: Reviews from Former Locations

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

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.

not easy graders but the work did not best facilitate my language learning especially in terms of grammar

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

better structured language classes

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

good

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

good

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

never did i feel unsafe

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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? maybe 10-15 euros during the week days if not going out
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? cabs are supper hard to come by in Toulouse! rent a bike!!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? none
Language acquisition improvement?

host family, teachers, other students, local friends

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • the service project
  • public presentations
  • small village home stay
* What could be improved?
  • the relationship of the teachers to individual students
  • working to find families that are actually excited to have a host student
  • how they select host families, can definitely be more personal,
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? many many opportunities to speak french