Montpellier L&G Student Review May 28, 2024
By Tibria B (French, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/26/2024 to 05/26/2024 with
University of Minnesota: Virtual Internships in Montpellier
French lol, and how to travel on my own safely
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. |
Most courses were really relaxed except for the direct enroll courses at Paul Valery. Please take a lot of caution when choosing those classes and ask ahead of time the expectations for the final and midterm exams. Or ask about the finals from previous semsters. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
With how much school work I was doing all the time and the distance of my host stay from the center city, I didn't have much opportunity to go about and meet people outside of my program. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
As a black woman, I never felt in danger at all. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Yes because my program's administrators did a lot of work to protect every student's physical and emotional health while we were there. Also Montpellier is an amazing city filled with other young people from various backgrounds. I would like to live there after graduating. It was a buzzing city with a lot of people but it never felt overwhelming with New York or Paris can be. It was also really safe. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | No money on groceries ever becasue it was included with my host family payment. But lunch and special dinners on the weekend was about $150 a week. But its definetly possible to spend less than that by making lunches at home |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Have as much fun as you can, but try to make yourself lunch 2-3 times a week. |
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 |
All the time. I only had 2/6 courses in english, I lived with a host that spoke no english, and worked an internship where no one spoke english |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | French 104 (level 5) |
| 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? | Even if you're embarrassed, talk as much as you can in the language you're trying to learn. Don't let your pride rob you of the main goal of studying in a foreign language. People will correct you, and that's the point. Also try listening to podcast while your in France, read books in French. just fully immerse yourself if you can. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | How difficult the Paul Valery courses would be (the local university I went to with local French Students) they felt pointless and overwhelming. No one spoke english so as a beginner french speaker, everything was impossible and it never really got easier even as my language skills improved exponentially |
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 NetworkerAn active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume. |
