Pau, France: Trying Something New and Uknown Past Review
By Jenna L (B.B.A. With a Major in Entrepreneurship & B.A. in Music and French, University of North Dakota) for
USAC France: Pau - French Language and European Studies
Yes!! I learned how to take care of my own loans and financing, I became more confident in speaking French and with new people in general, I made tons of great friends, and I learned how to overcome obstacles in my life. I always loved European history but the language was never something I loved or thought I could speak until I finished the program.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour (2011) and ICN Business School in Metz, France (2007) |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Lots of class but the French teachers were awesome. There was one professor from the US who many students had issues with but he was a replacement for another professor who usually teaches in Pau. The grading was fair and we were able to take and pass the DELF/DALF exam according to our placement level at the end of the semester. I learned tons! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Class sizes were small and broken into many levels. You are placed within the level that you test into and it is subject to change if you do not fit well within that level. Everyone was extremely helpful and overall, I have no complaints. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
There were French students and international students in the apartments. They were kind of like dorms but you had your own studio apartment and a small kitchen and your own bathroom. They are definitely not the cleanest either... |
| * Food: |
I bought my own food and cooked it. French food isn't my favorite in general. haha I know, I know!! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Lots of things to sign up for through the university for a low price: for around 20 euro, you can sign up for three weekly activities. They have so many choices! African dance, hiking in the Pyrenees, snow shooing, downhill skiing, kayaking, soccer, rockwall climbing, yoga, modern dance and ballet, and the list continues. I also joined the Pau community orchestra where I met lots of locals and traveled with them to small French cities performing. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
We were informed of dangers, health issues and what to do if you have an emergency or even need to go to a doctor. I went to a doctor for a terrible cough and my directors helped me set everything up, walked me there, and even wrote down all of my symptoms in French. Extremely helpful. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced in class every minute of everyday but also a little within the community with the orchestra I joined and also with other French students. However, I spoke a lot of English with my English friends. Sometimes French students refused to speak French as well because they wanted to practice too! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | French and non-French majors - if you are interested in French or even Spanish culture, Pau is perfect for you. The language studies was intensive and yet if you couldn't speak one word of French, you were accepted and taught the basics in a beginners level. My most important advice: If you study abroad in France, really get your papers and loans in place EARLY!!! Don't wait until the UND or USAC deadlines to get everything done - especially visa paperwork and appointment information. CAMPUS FRANCE is difficult and takes awhile for your information to process! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Overall Language classes (excluding literature or other electives) |
| Course Department: | ?? |
| Instructor: | Madame Isabel, Madame Marie-Paul, Madame ? |
| Instruction Language: | French |
| Comments: | It didn't seem challenging until I took some of the tests and realized that I wasn't absorbing as much as I should be. The hardest thing for me was understanding questions, asking questions, and answering ALL IN FRENCH. We were not aloud to speak or write any English. It was great. The teachers were really good and definitely prepared. However, sometimes class got long because there was sometimes 8 hours in a day... but that definitely changed depending on the day or week. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No, my credits all transferred toward my French major and helped me complete it. In fact, I was able to graduate the same semester I went abroad. |
