Loved Lyon! Past Review
By Carman (University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 01/14/2016 to 05/28/2016 with
USAC France: Lyon - French Language, Art History, and Francophone Studies
It was worthwhile! I learned a lot of French and realized that I would be very happy to live in France and have French be my main language.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses truly helped me to get an understanding of the French language. Teachers were available to help outside of the classroom as well. I would have liked to be challenged a little bit more but I definitely learned 12 credits worth of French. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff on-site were very helpful and friendly. I felt very comfortable in their hands. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
They were at a great location however they were different from what I expected. The showers were the the biggest shock as they had drain issues all year and a shortage of hot water. |
| * Food: |
There isn't a meal plan for this program but I will say that food is much cheaper in France than in the US. Unless you live with a host family you will probably be cooking your own food and the housing doesn't usually have an oven, just a stove top. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was much easier to hang out with the other exchange students than to meet french people, mostly because other french students our ages are studying very hard in college and are busier than we are. I wish I had lived with a host family for this reason. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The insurance that we had was good and we got refunds for any doctors visits. The program staff helped us find doctors that could speak english and we got appointments within a couple days. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Lyon, even walking back home at night from meeting friends. Like any city you do have to be careful about thieves and pickpockets, but just be aware of your surroundings. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would chose the same program but definitely try to be more with the locals than people in my program. |
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? | $40 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do your shopping in more than one place to get the best deals. |
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? | Beginner |
| 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? | FRE 201 |
| 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? | Meet locals and become friends with them more than the people in the program. Even if you make good friends in the program, it's definitely more beneficial in the long run to be with French people in France. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How the exam for classes was given. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
