Audrey’s Fall Semester in Paris, France

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Seeking to embark on a bon voyage as a university scholar finding out overseas in France? We lately caught up with Audrey from Washington State College, who studied overseas in Paris in the course of the fall semester. 

Uncover how Audrey’s fall semester in Paris helped her enhance her French language expertise and meet different college students from around the globe! 

Selecting a Program Vacation spot & Time period 

When you resolve to research overseas, you get to decide on the place on the planet you wish to go. Luckily, AIFS Overseas affords a variety of applications in thrilling places across the globe, so you’ll be able to select a vacation spot that finest aligns together with your educational wants and pursuits. Audrey Hepburn famously mentioned that “Paris is all the time a good suggestion,” and that definitely was the case for this Audrey who wished to observe her French in a massive metropolis: 

“I selected Paris as a result of I wished to expertise residing in a giant metropolis, and I wished to enhance my French literacy. This system in Paris additionally had courses that might switch again nicely, so I might nonetheless be capable to graduate on time.” 

Audrey opted for a fall semester program, which allowed her to expertise Paris because it modified from the nice and cozy summer time to the winter vacation season: 

“I feel that going to Paris within the fall [semester] was nice as a result of I used to be in a position to expertise [different seasons]. To start with, it was nonetheless summer time, so I obtained to expertise the solar; then it obtained chilly, and I obtained to expertise a real winter. The vacationer ranges modified lots whereas I used to be there, so I obtained to see the town throughout peak busy time, and a mellow, lower-tourist time. In November and December, I used to be additionally in a position to expertise the Christmas markets with pals, which was wonderful.” 

One other good thing about finding out overseas in Paris in the course of the fall semester (and through winter break) is the prospect to see the Eiffel Tower adorned with snow, like Audrey did: 

“My pal known as me on the in the future it snowed in Paris. She advised me to rise up and get to the Eiffel Tower as quickly as potential. We ran to the metro and obtained to see the Eiffel Tower because it sparkled within the snow!” 

Why AIFS Overseas? 

In terms of selecting a supplier, school college students and up to date grads go along with AIFS Overseas for all kinds of causes. For Audrey, it got here all the way down to suggestions from friends, scholarship alternatives (which we encourage you to use for!), and our superior inclusions like actions and excursions that we offer with each program: 

“I knew lots of people who studied overseas with AIFS and cherished it. After I appeared into it extra carefully, I cherished that it had places I wished to go to, in addition to scholarship alternatives and enjoyable excursions related to each program.” 

Lecturers Overseas 

Irrespective of the place you go along with AIFS Overseas, you’re in for a rewarding educational expertise. For a hospitality enterprise administration main like Audrey, the  American Enterprise Faculty, Paris supplied an excellent worldwide studying expertise. Though courses are taught in English, the varsity nonetheless feels intimate, with college students from over 80 nations studying collectively in small courses: 

“It was fascinating going from a big school campus to a small metropolis constructing for a college, nevertheless it was cool to have the ability to meet a bunch of individuals from all around the globe who have been finding out on the college. 

There have been AIFS college students, different college students from comparable research overseas applications, Parisians, and worldwide college students in nearly each class I used to be in. There have been often between 15 and 35 college students in my courses, and all have been taught in English except for my French class.” 

As Audrey talked about, she took a French language course along with her enterprise courses. Regardless of the problem of whole language immersion, Audrey loved the course and famous how a lot it helped enhance her French proficiency: 

“I cherished my French course as a result of it was totally spoken in French. It required me to actually concentrate, and it elevated my understanding of the language a lot quicker.” 

Housing 

Housing is included in all AIFS Overseas applications. Some applications provide the choice of a homestay, the place you’ll be able to reside with a neighborhood household and interact extra deeply with the tradition. Hear Audrey describe her homestay expertise and the way it helped her develop as an individual: 

“I used to be in a homestay with a roommate. This meant that I used to be in an residence with a number household however shared a room with one other scholar in my program. The household made us one dinner every week and all the time had breakfast choices out there. The toughest problem was studying learn how to reside with folks I barely knew and will solely talk with in French. It was troublesome at occasions, nevertheless it pushed me to be one of the best model of myself.” 

Actions & Excursions 

As Audrey talked about originally, one of many deciding elements that helped her select AIFS Overseas was the excursions and actions every of our applications present. This usually consists of excursions of your host metropolis and day journeys to discover regional websites. These actions and excursions aren’t simply nice alternatives to be taught extra about your host nation’s historical past, geography, and tradition—they provide the prospect to bond with fellow individuals outdoors of the classroom. 

As Audrey defined, her favourite AIFS Overseas exercise was their farewell dinner: 

“My favourite was the farewell dinner as a result of it gave us all the chance to hang around one remaining time, and we obtained to all attempt Raclette. It was the most effective dinners of my life.” 

Solo Journeys 

Along with becoming a member of excursions included in your program, you’re welcome to set off by yourself throughout your free time and journey to your coronary heart’s content material. For Audrey, Good stands out as one in every of her favourite journeys throughout her time overseas: 

“I cherished going to Good as a result of it was the primary time I had ever seen the Mediterranean Sea. It was the bluest water I had ever seen, and I obtained to expertise it when it was nonetheless summertime!” 

Remaining Ideas from Audrey 

Reflecting on her unimaginable semester overseas in Paris, Audrey can’t assist however advocate this research program to everybody: 

“Anybody and everybody ought to do that program. My cohort was very blended, with folks from all around the U.S. and Japan. We met folks from all around the globe at our college, and all of us college students had very totally different French comprehension ranges. Because of this, I feel anybody might thrive in this particular program.” 

Are you able to take the leap and research overseas like Audrey did in Paris? We’d love that can assist you begin your journey! 

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to school college students research overseas. Our applications are extremely inclusive, which takes loads of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency assist, on-site workers, and extra, you’ll take consolation in understanding you’ll have assist all through your complete expertise overseas.