87 reviews
4.03 / 5 based on 87 reviews
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katiebrooke
, France
Linguistics, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Overall
I wish I had known...
I wish I would have been prepared about my language skills, and about the way the French Academic system worked. I also wish I would have researched the town a bit more, and the weather in the town. But I'm not disappointed, in fact I feel lucky. I basically pointed and chose a place on the map because I was too uneducated about the regions in France. Besancon is great and the people are friendly.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
You should go, but don't expect a super organized student friendly university environment with professors who have office hours. it doesn't work like that, and the building is always under construction.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Besac is almost in the center of Europe. Travel, but take time to really explore the area around the Besancon hills. There are tons of great hikes and places to explore. La Chapelle de Buis, les forts, la citadelle and all of the different pathways to the top, Battant, etc.
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katiebrooke
, France
Linguistics, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Government assistance
Other sources of funding:
Family
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
For cheap food,` try Lidl on rue Siffert. cheap food and there's a laundry mat just next door. Nightlife is more expensive because I went out more! All the time! Travel was more for obvious reasons, and telephone was less because I bought a cell phone with rechargeable cards. the best way to go.
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Nightlife, Travel, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Food, Telephone, Housing:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
ATM/Debit cards from home work just fine in France. You could bank right from home but you are required to open a bank account in France. Open a bank account at the Banque Populaire right downtown on rue des Granges--and go to Patrick. He's very helpful if you are polite and nice and try to speak good French.
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katiebrooke
, France
Linguistics, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Academic
Course recommendations
If you want to study French linguistics, ask about courses in SLEC.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
There's no supervision and maybe one or two tests. The teachers were pretty easy on us foreigners. I got better grades than I deserved.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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katiebrooke
, France
Linguistics, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Languages
Language of instruction: French
Was learning French a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
How much did you improve your French?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
I knew a lot less French when I arrived in France than I thought I did! It was a real struggle at first but hard work and a love for the language paid off. One semester is not enough to fully speak the language. In December when you have to leave you are just feeling at ease iin the language. Then you have to go.
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katiebrooke
, France
Linguistics, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Activities, Nightlife: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
The hot spots where students frequent are Pub d'etoile, and pretty much any bars found on la Grande Rue et Rue des Granges. BUT for real culture, try out la Cremerie (often live music in the centre ville) or le Marulaz (in the Battant quarter with lots of live music, hippies, reggae, jazz, culture man!) Also the best concerts are found in the "caves" in bars. Take time to stop and look at the flyers. Often they are inexpensive and unknown but the time of your life. Go to the xmas market in Granvelle and try the vin chaud. Also, try to walk up to the Fort de Bregille. it's a long walk, but if ou take bus #27 to Rue des Fontenottes, it's only about 1/2 hour. Go to the Citadelle, too.
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katiebrooke
, France
Linguistics, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Housing
Type of housing: On campus
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
I would choose to live in an apartment with other French students. The dorms were about a 25 minute bus ride from campus and downtown. The bathroom facilities were co-ed (pretty normal), but dirty and really not very safe. The toilets had no seats and everyone had to take his/her own toilet paper to the bathroom everytime. Finally, living with other French students would be nice because in the dorms all fo the Americans, Italians, etc all grouped together and spoke their native languages. Not conducive to learning French. The price was right 800ff/month=$110/month, but you paid for what you got.
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