IES Abroad Paris - French Studies : Testimonials (Paris)
The following program testimonial responses have been selected for publication by Office of International Programs
We want to hear about your experience!
Why did you choose this program?
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I chose the IES French Studies - Paris program because there were a lot of things going for it (speaking as a French major): it was in France, versus other options like going to Madagascar, and the language there has the standard French accent, and also it was going to be in Paris, where so many of the quintessential French monuments are and historical events took place. Personally, I also chose this program because it was in the same city in which my aunt lives, so I felt a little bit closer to home even though I was so far away.
— Bailey Carraway, Spring 2014 |
Why did you choose this program?
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As a French and Art History major, Paris seemed like a no-brainer. The architecture and art of this city are out of this world, and I was in foodie heaven. I wanted to perfect my French conversational skills, but I wanted the freedom and excitement of a large city. Paris was perfect.
— Sari Imber, Spring 2014 |
What was your favorite aspect of this program?
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My favorite aspect was, honestly, my outside courses. I was able to take classes at Paris IV, or the Sorbonne, and become friends with the French students -- but also sometimes the Erasmus students -- in my classes. Without my outside courses (at the Malesherbes and Clignancourt campuses), I wouldn't have been able to make French friends. That's the honest truth; making real French friends isn't something that happens at a bar or a club or anything like that, because it is honestly rather hard to make French friends. It's like a war of attrition: you have to constantly be ready to be friendly, every class, and they will eventually let you in -- and once they do, you are very good friends. One of my friends even invited me home with her for sightseeing and dinner with her family. The best comparison I've heard is that French people are like coconuts: hard shell on the outside, but gooey on the inside. Once they let you in, you're all in, but I could not have possibly (and I don't know anyone who did) have made friends without my outside classes.
— Bailey Carraway, Spring 2014 |
What was your favorite aspect of this program?
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The city itself! Paris is beautiful, and there is never a dull moment. Exploring all of the different arrondissements, the food, the art -- I was never bored, and my bucket list stretched on forever. I could've stayed there for years! I miss the crepes, the baguettes, and the French wine.
— Sari Imber, Spring 2014 |
What was your housing situation like?
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I lived in what's called a chambre de bonne, which is essentially a small studio. My host family lived on the 5th floor of the apartment building, and I lived on the roof, on the 8th floor and had my own fridge and stovetop.
— Sari Imber, Spring 2014 |
What was your favorite class and why?
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My favorite class was my German class at the Sorbonne. I know that taking another language while being in a language-intensive program is not advisable, but there are some valuable pros: first of all, when we were learning vocabulary in class, often times I would not know the French word that they would use to translate the German word, which thus gave me an opportunity to expand my vocabulary (which is not an aspect that you spend much time on; most of the focus is on getting you to speak and write more fluidly, less on building vocabulary); secondly, the people that I met in class were taking German as their second language, which meant that for the majority, they were not good at English, so if I had questions in class, I had to speak in French (this was not the case in my history class, where the friends I made were fluent in English, and it was very hard to convince myself to speak in French with them -- and honestly, I don't think I ever did), and it honestly made me think of French in a different way and allowed me to see another aspect of French culture (such as the classroom, but also how they teach different languages -- which is so different than in the United States). Furthermore, because it was a language class, I had to interact with the students in my much smaller class, and so I made a lot of friends there.
— Bailey Carraway, Spring 2014 |
What was your favorite class and why?
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I took History of Photography and absolutely loved it. I've always loved photography and I collect cameras, so learning the history in the city where photography was born was extremely exciting. My professor was hilarious and was constantly making us laugh, and the field trips to all of the local museums were always memorable and exciting.
— Sari Imber, Spring 2014 |
What did you gain from studying abroad?
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I gained self-reliance above all. Between scheduling my own classes between three institutions -- IES, Malesherbes campus, and Clignancourt campus -- and managing the commutes between all of my classes, cooking for myself and buying my metro pass on the first of every month, getting deals based on my residency in France and arguing with ticket sellers when they wouldn't, I really had to rely on myself. Even with my aunt living close by, studying abroad was an experience in self confidence and self reliance. If you get lost, its up to you to figure out how to get home; I couldn't call my mom and dad to bail me out. If someone you know is having an emergency (as happened with two of my friends when I was with them), you're the one is going to have to deal with the aftermath and take care of them. I have learned my limits and pushed them, I have lived in a city far larger than any I had previously lived in, and I can honestly say that it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
— Bailey Carraway, Spring 2014 |
What did you gain from studying abroad?
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Studying abroad, I gained the confidence to be completely independent. From conquering the metro, to grocery shopping and deciphering food labels in French, I felt like I was unstoppable. Paris was mine, and I felt confident in my language skills and my travel skills to be able to explore freely and independently. It's an incredible feeling to know no one is holding you back from exploring the world!
— Sari Imber, Spring 2014 |