Past Review
By Kathryn F (Political Science and French Language, Wellesley College) for
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
I had a fantastic experience abroad, it was everything I'd hoped it would be and more. I had always wanted to go abroad to France, eat french food, make friends from the areas, study there....just be a part of a culture unlike my own. I thought it would be an incredible personal challenge and experience, and I was right. France was beautiful and historical and memorable. Of course there were a few unpleasant aspects, but those memories are lost compared to the positive ones I have. I would tell, and do, anyone and everyone to go abroad if you can. It may be hard in the beginning to adjust to the differences, to not having close family and friends nearby, etc...but my 5 months were so worth it. I loved the Wellesley-in-Aix abroad program!
Personal Information
| 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. |
The workload was less rigorous abroad than it is at Wellesley. There are fewer papers/projects to complete throughout the year. In France, some classes just require a final, or perhaps a midterm and a final, whereas WEllesley classes have students complete some sort of assignment(s) throughout the year as well as either midterm/final exams or papers. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our on-site adminstrator was a Wellesley faculty member. She worked with people who lived in Aix full time. I thought the Wellesley Center was fantastic! I felt very supported and knew I had someone to turn to with any kind of problem. They really wanted us to have the best experience possible. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Please see below. <br /><br /> My roommate and I lived in a great part of Aix, right in the middle of the town. We were walking distance from so many key places like stores, restaurants, and the grocery store. Only problem with my arrangement was that I lived with an American...we communicated in English so I wasn't challenged as much to learn French. In retrospect, we really should have challenged ourselves more so that we could have improved our language skills faster. Nevertheless, I also found it comforting to liv with someone who spoke my language. It helped when it came to handling problems associated to homesickness or venting over summer employment opportunities. |
| * Food: |
I cooked my own food. I'm not a very good cook but I'm glad I had the opportunity to finally force myself and learn. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I made new friends both with other American students in the program and with people I met there. I had an incredible social experience- Aix is a great town to be a foreign student abroad. It is full of other foreign students and is much more open to students practicing their french than, say, Paris. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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? | I spent apx. 40-50 euros a week on food. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I recommend finding a way to eat healthy but still relatively cheaply. Don't eat out all the time. Have a bunch of memorable occasions that require eating out, but save your stipend for other great things that will of course require money. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced mostly with friends I made in the country. They also were either learning English or already knew it, so they understood how difficult it was and were kind and understanding as a result. I would recommend taht students force themselves to practice the language both with friends they make in the country and with american friends. I sometimes held myself back because I was embarrassed to make mistakes, but that shouldn't be a concern when someone is learning a new language. |
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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This is an incredible program. They prepare you before you leave and take care of you the entire time you're there. I felt challenged in the classroom because the language and expectations were different. But the directors don't let you feel alone in the process. I felt very supported and encouraged. Futhermore, the organized program trips are a great way to get around to surrounding towns/cities and see places you might not have seen on your own or just with a group of friends. Aix is beautiful and full of fountains, markets, and trees. It's a beautiful place and I left thankful that I had not gone to study in Paris. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
The Decolonization of Subsaharn Africa |
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| Comments: | This was an excellent course. The professor was very accomodating to the foreign students in her class (about 1/2). She spoke quickly but always repeated herself right away, so I grew accustomed to understanding her pace and the subject matter. She also recovered information that was assigned in the readings which helped me with my comprehension of the material. She had an agreement with the program so she stayed after class with the foreign students and answered questions/re-exlained any topics we were having problems with. She also took us--and the french students if they were interested- on a few field trips around the city because it was a former colonial city (Marseille). Not to mention, above all, I really liked the subject material- I was eager to take a course on Africa from an international perspective- this course was a great ticket for that. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Anthropology of the Maghreb World |
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| Instructor: | |
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| Comments: | This was my most difficult class. I had a hard time understanding the professor and I did not find him to be very accomodating to the foreign students. I never expected him to be easier with us or expect less, but I think he assumed that we had no problems following along, and that wasn't my case. He went off on tangets, which normally I don't have a problem with, but I found them incredibly difficult to follow since they werent in my first language. He was also unapproachable and unreachable, so I didn't feel comfortable verifying information that I did not well understand in class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
