Simply Amazing! August 16, 2023
By Rick F (other) - abroad from 07/02/2023 to 06/24/2023 with
The Experiment: France: Cultural Discovery
I learned many things about myself as it was a great time to see how well I work with others. But most importantly I learned even more about the language! It was certainly worthwhile to learn more personally and academically.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I feel like the educational experience was solely up to the individual, which would certainly work for some. However, if more French education resources were more abundant would I feel that I have learned more. However, the immersion was without a doubt an important factor when talking about the educational experience in this program. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration over in France was good in the form of our French group leader. She made sure everyone was safe and made sure we had fun. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was amazing! They made us feel welcome and properly integrated us in the French life style. |
| * Food: |
The French food was excellent! Food at the restaurants and at the host family were spectacular! I believe there is something for everyone. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like I was treated very well and could see how locals appreciated me speaking even a little French. The people that I met were very welcoming and made me feel included in both the conversation and the culture |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
In our host city things were quite safe as it was a residential neighborhood, and never felt |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This was a hard question. First lets start with Yes. I think I would do it again given the chance, living with another French family would be fun, and getting to know another group of experimenters would be exciting. However, that would also be the problem for me. I already met amazing friends who I still keep in contact with, and I stayed with an amazing host family. However, that's the thing I wouldn't want to do the same program even if I find another amazing group. I feel like this time was really special for me and I don't want to replace it for either a better experience or a worse one. Despite this, that doesn't mean that this program isn't worth doing again!! it is a once in a life time experience and anyone should take that chance to go, or to go again. For me, this first program was special and can never be replaced. or outranked. |
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) |
The money aspect wasn't that difficult for me, however, it certainly is an aspect to monitor. But, with the money provide it certainly got us good lunch with only 10 euros! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | A rough estimate of 10 to 22 euros a day for lunch and dinner, so a week would be around 100 euros a week. However this would be changing as team leaders might pay for a group meal. Trinkets/goods were few and far between. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy food you think you can finish, and buy trinkets/souvenirs only if you believe it will be special to you! |
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 |
The program encouraged the use of the basics like Bonjour, Merci, and De rien. However, the usage of the language was up to the students and very little took french courses in the past. However, dispite this using the basics was still encouraged, as it was all a lot of people had. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 3 |
| 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? | The best way to practice the language is learning the verbs firstly, You need a basic set of words you can use and conjugate in the different subjects. However! being immersed in the language helps, so watching different types of media in the language you want to learn actually helps! Even knowing around a thousand words can get you by in a conversation, and dispite it seeming like a large number it gets easier as you go. The biggest piece of advice is to never give up! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | I wish I knew more french phrases to use with my host family. |
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! |
