Past Review
By Yakun X (French Language and Literature., Wellesley College) for
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
Yes. French culture taught me to enjoy life instead of just tolerating or surviving it, to see it as an art instead of a task to complete.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Workload was lighter; teaching methods lacked in organization and applicability; the educational system did not make sense, as classwork was not tested on exams. There were less exams, each of which counted as a large part of the final grade. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very supportive, understanding and encouraging. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Excellent condition, location, and included all the cooking and cleaning equipments necessary. This may have been one of the best parts of the program. <br /><br /> The apartment itself was commodious, spacious, and situated in a very central part of town. I enjoyed my own personal space, as well as the kitchen and the bathroom. The only weakness was the noise outside and the thin windows. |
| * Food: |
This was the best part by far, in particular the fresh fruits, vegetables and fish markets outside the apartment. Dining out may become costly, but the food is guaranteed to be excellent and palatable. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Excellent trips, especially the kayaking one. Cultural events were everywhere, and I enjoyed the theaters and cinemas that were very close to where I lived. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Aix-en-Provence is a relatively safe city. We were warned of any expected dangers, and unexpected health issues were dealt with in a very timely manner. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 50 euros/ week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save money by walking instead of taking public transportation; compare prices at the fruits and vegetables markets; don't waste money on items that can be found in America, or even anywhere else in the country, when you can buy something that you will never find again. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Sophomore |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Classmates, teachers, advisors, participants of extracurricular activities, market vendors, bus drivers, taxi drivers, restaurant waiters and waitresses. Most of the students in the same study abroad program spoke English or Franglais to each other. |
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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* Who did you take classes 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? | Do not expect Wellesley College from Universite d'Aix-en-Provence. This is a semester where you have the opportunity to grow as much as you choose, so step out of your comfort zone while you can, before you have to go back to it again. |
