111 reviews
4.08 / 5 based on 111 reviews
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saartje94
Housing
Type of housing: With a family
Arranged by: Home university
If returning, I would choose: With a family
Why?
It was essential to learning the language and culture. Students who lived in University housing simply talked to other expats and were not nearly as immersed in daily French life.
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Personal comments
It didn't always work out perfectly for everyone, but as I said before, I think living with a host family was quite important. We all learned different things about the city through them, and were at the same time independent and able to discover things on our own. And we were able to experience smaller customs, learning how to have meals and celebrate events as they do.
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saartje94
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Nightlife: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Activities, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
The Arvor and Theatre National de Bretagne cinemas were the best places for intelligent, independent sub-titled films, as well as great film series, festivals and short film nights. It was cinema heaven.
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saartje94
Overall
I wish I had known...
That simply living with a French host family is not always enough to make you part of it (as had happened in Holland). That in most cases you absolutely must force yourself onto them in order to forge a real relationship.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
I think it was an excellent program. Tough, but you really got a taste of French university life, even though it was tailored to International students. And the professors were great.
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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
I could probably only give the same tips as with every experience abroad, take advantage of your time as much as possible. every time you think of something you want to do, book it and go do it because suddenly you have 2 days left and no more time.
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saartje94
Academic
My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
Only to try to prepare particularly American students a bit more, probably more the responsibility of the home institution. It's just a very different system and very taxing.
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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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saartje94
Languages
Language of instruction: French
Was learning French a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my French
How much did you improve your French?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
For me, language was definitely the point of going, and I felt the program was well designed to accomodate students at all levels, from beginner to advanced. The assessment at the beginning was good, and I appreciated very much that they allowed me to attempt the most advanced level. At the beginning they had a few misgivings, but in the end I managed extremely well and truly am grateful for the chance to push myself (and not have been bored in a lower level).
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saartje94
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Other
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
Personal savings<br>
Government assistance<br>
A private grant
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
More travel meant more expenses. I telephoned less because I was so far away and it would have been quite expensive, so I just did without.
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Nightlife, Overall, Travel, Housing:
was more expensive than at home.
Food:
was the same price as at home.
Telephone:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
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