a challenging but rewarding experience in a beautiful place with great food January 13, 2025
By A student (Art history and French, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/25/2024 to 12/18/2024 with
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My French improved a lot, I took classes in subjects I had not studied before and learned a lot from them, I learned a lot about myself and how I learn best, what kinds of environments I thrive in, and which kinds of environments or relationships exacerbate my anxiety. I feel that I became a lot more independent and grew as a person through challenging moments, and put myself out of my comfort zone on a daily basis, which was not always pleasant but in retrospect was very important for me and my personal growth.
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. |
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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? |
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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
I loved the location and felt that I got to really know my way around the city, I enjoyed the classes I took in-house at WIA and at sciencespo, I got to make a few friends and spent a lot of time with my host family. Most of my challenges stemmed from interpersonal issues or differences in learning goals with other students in WIA, so if I were to do it all again I think I would choose to spend time with different people or be in a different cohort |
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? | 100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | eating at the student cantine, going to the local markets, using the Wellesley stipend to guide your budget |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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 212 at Wellesley |
| 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? | speak in the language with other members of the program and really commit to speaking with one another/being fully immersed, make an effort to speak to host family/make friends at your local university to practice speaking with them |
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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| 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? |
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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? | I wish I had realized how isolating and anxiety-inducing study abroad can feel (especially in a town that can feel very insular small at times) so I could have better prepared myself for those feelings before arriving. I also wish that people in the WIA program had made more of an effort to speak French with one another or even at WIA-sponsored events or at Tavan, as I felt this prevented me from having true immersion and improving my language skills as much as I could have. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
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