It wasn't perfect but je ne regrette rien Past Review
By A student (French/German, University of Maine at Orono) - abroad from 09/01/2011 to 05/31/2012 with
University of Angers: Angers - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned to deal with disappointment! No, but seriously, I don't take any of our simple freedoms for granted anymore. I've also really learned to be patient, as everything took longer over there. It was worthwhile on a language level, but the experience was not exactly enjoyable.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Sometimes they were very helpful and other times, it was like navigating this unknown place totally alone. When I was faced with a real issue towards the end of the year, it was ignored. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorm rooms themselves were very clean and modern with an individual bathroom, so that was an advantage. However, the kitchens closed early, and there were no common rooms for people to "hang out" in...at times, it felt like living in a jail cell. Also, the internet was extremely slow and would time-out constantly. |
| * Food: |
The school cafe was good, despite the minimal hours. Other than that, everything was pretty much self-serve in dorms. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It really depends on the classes you take and the effort you put in to it. I was lucky enough to stay with a family on the weekends, because otherwise, I would not have had the same cultural experience. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The health center was very accessible being next door to the dorms; I had a very positive experience there with doctors that listened to your needs. |
| * Safety: |
Not in Angers, which is kind of misleading; I would not walk around the neighborhood at night and none of my friends did either. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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 cost of living is expensive in France, but it was manageable. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50-$100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan meals ahead of time so no food will go to waste. Supermarkets have sales just like here in the U.S., so look for those. Get to know some of the local students to see what they are cooking...you'll get some tips/local recipes! |
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 |
It really does depend on the classes, but it's very easy to get by only in English, as we tend to gravitate towards people who speak the same language as us. |
| 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? | 400 level |
| 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? | Really get to know the French students in your classes or on your floor. There's only so much you can learn in a class, but the real, conversational French can really only be learned outside of the classroom. |
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 had known that the class schedule was extremely difficult to navigate and I wish I had known that there were going to be so few international student activities. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
