AIFS Pupil Highlight: Ainsley’s Fall Semester in Grenoble

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Wanting to observe within the footsteps of a faculty pupil who studied overseas in France? We not too long ago caught up with Ainsley, a digital media main and French and francophone research minor from Xavier College, who studied overseas within the mountainside metropolis of Grenoble throughout her fall semester. 

Uncover how Ainsley’s fall semester in Grenoble with AIFS Overseas helped enhance her French language fluency and broaden her worldview. 

Selecting a Examine Overseas Program Vacation spot & Time period 

With greater than 30 locations to decide on from with AIFS Overseas, deciding the place to go takes some consideration (our crew can assist with that!). You’ll be able to slim down your search by filtering applications by educational curiosity, nation, or time period utilizing our program finder on the homepage. If you’re like Ainsley, it’s possible you’ll take a look at smaller cities the place you possibly can observe talking French: 

“[I chose Grenoble because of] the scale of town, the homestay housing possibility, and the gorgeous French Alps. The town was additionally very close to to another larger cities like Lyon and Geneva, which have been excellent for brief weekend journeys. This program is ideal for a pupil who is devoted to bettering their French, because the course facet of it was extremely transformative for my language abilities. Grenoble can be excellent for somebody who loves the outside and—like me—perhaps doesn’t wish to be in a bigger metropolis like Paris.” 

In relation to selecting when to check overseas, your educational or extracurricular schedule might affect your choice. As a member of her college’s band, Ainsley had fewer commitments through the fall semester: 

“I selected the autumn time period as a result of I’m part of Xavier’s pep band, and we do quite a lot of touring for the Massive East and NCAA tournaments within the spring semester, which I didn’t wish to miss. I ended up actually having fun with the autumn semester, as a result of I used to be capable of spend my birthday touring to Good with my mother, and I cherished going to the Christmas market.” 

Why AIFS Overseas? 

There are one million the reason why faculty college students and up to date graduates select AIFS Overseas—together with our devoted on-site help, immersive actions and excursions, award-winning housing, and our experiential examine overseas and internship applications situated in thrilling locations all over the world. After doing some analysis, Ainsley found that our intensive French language programs have been simply what she was searching for: 

“AIFS applications supplied extra intensive French language programs than others. I favored that AIFS included alternatives for journey in its applications, and that they work to offset carbon emissions.” 

Lecturers Overseas 

While you examine overseas, you get to expertise a very new educational setting. You’ll be able to be taught from professors with distinctive views, meet worldwide college students from all over the world, and expertise how a completely different cultural context can remodel your research. Hear Ainsley describe her expertise at the College of Grenoble Alpes: 

“[I attended the] College of Grenoble Alpes, particularly the Centre Universitaire d’Etudes Françaises (CUEF). This division was for worldwide college students trying to enhance their French. Although I didn’t meet many French college students, I used to be surrounded by individuals from all around the world, and my worldview was expanded a lot due to it. I used to be capable of be taught not solely about French tradition, however different world cultures as nicely.” 

As somebody devoted to bettering her fluency, Ainsley signed up for an intensive French language program the place all of her courses have been taught in French. Her 5 programs in Grenoble included: French Literature, French Language, Vocabulary Enrichment, Mythologies, and French Tradition & Society. The language course stood out to Ainsley for a number of causes: 

“The principle language class was undoubtedly my favourite, as a result of I realized SO a lot from it by way of language. The professor was very useful in integrating our weakest abilities into the course and making certain that we have been studying tips on how to converse fluent French. I actually loved a discipline journey we took to the Chateau de Vizille, which is the place the French Revolution truly began. The actions coordinator gave us lectures on the historical past of the chateau, and we have been capable of discover the museum and the backyard.” 

Language Studying 

Whereas some college students select to check overseas with the aim of bettering their overseas language abilities, you’re not required to talk or be taught one other language to check or intern overseas. Nonetheless, certainprograms, like the French Language and Tradition possibility Ainsley selected, do have overseas language necessities: 

“I needed to be not less than at a B1 stage in French, which is early intermediate. Coming into the semester, I used to be fairly good at studying and writing, however listening and talking have been my worst abilities. My French improved exponentially all through the semester, as a result of I used to be fully immersed. I hardly spoke English through the day, and I learn Harry Potter books in French all through the semester to observe my studying. My recommendation for immersion is to really let your self be immersed, and don’t default to English along with your friends simply because you possibly can. The extra you observe and check out, the extra you’ll be rewarded… By the tip of the semester, I had grown very used to listening to and understanding French.” 

Homestay 

Many AIFS Overseas applications, like Ainsley’s, provide a homestay as a housing possibility, which is ideal if you wish to observe a overseas language or immerse your self extra totally within the native tradition. To make sure individuals are matched with the appropriate hosts (all of whom are totally vetted by AIFS Overseas workers), we ask individuals to fill out a questionnaire. For instance, Ainsley famous how she likes canines and cats, so she was positioned in a pet-friendly homestay: 

“I stayed in a homestay with an older lady and her two cats and two canines. She cooked dinner for me each night time and offered me with fruit for breakfast. She additionally did all my laundry as a result of the French are very explicit about their laundry machines. It was very nice being in a homestay and having a nightly household dinner. We additionally had a number of different short-term worldwide college students stick with us all through the semester, so it was enjoyable having a makeshift household round.” 

AIFS Overseas Journeys & Excursions 

The French author Stendhal as soon as described Grenoble as having “a mountain on the finish of each avenue,” a becoming picture for this alpine metropolis. However other than the stunning French Alps, there’s way more to uncover past your host metropolis. All AIFS Overseas applications embrace journeys and excursions, that are led by native workers who take you round your host nation. You’ll get to discover extra of the area and be taught in regards to the historical past and tradition by visiting essential websites. Hear Ainsley talk about a number of of her excursions all through France: 

“I went on quite a lot of excursions, [including two] weekend ones [to] Provence and Paris. I cherished attending to discover different cities, particularly in numerous areas of France, that are very completely different. I cherished having free time by myself to get meals, discover museums or outlets, and see what I needed to see essentially the most. I additionally acquired to satisfy the AIFS Cannes college students on these journeys, which made exploring much more enjoyable. 

My favourite [excursion was] the Chartreuse Museum and Annecy. Annecy was a stupendous lakeside, mountainous city that my Program Director referred to as the Venice of France. The town was filled with canals, and the buildings have been lined in ivy and flowers. The meals there was scrumptious and there was an excellent weekend market. The Chartreuse Museum was simply tremendous attention-grabbing as a result of it was one thing I had by no means heard of or tried earlier than.” 

Along with AIFS Overseas excursions, Ainsley took a number of journeys with family and friends over the weekends and through her host college’s fall break: 

“I went to Geneva with a pair of pals, and I had a good time there. It was a 2-hour practice from Grenoble, and the meals there was actually scrumptious, and the previous city was very fairly. 

I went with my mother to Prague over fall break, which was a brilliant enjoyable journey and far wanted after midterms. We explored the entire metropolis collectively, and I fell in love with a number of the meals there. Prague was comparatively low cost in comparison with different cities I visited. My mother and I additionally visited Good for my birthday weekend. The climate there was stunning, the seashores have been so fairly and simply enjoyable to hang around at, and a number of the cafes and pastries there have been unimaginable. Good can be tremendous near Monte Carlo and another small coastal cities, so it was straightforward to take a brief day journey to a different city.” 

Making Reminiscences 

Other than the superb cultural experiences and the exponential enchancment of her French language abilities, one of many highlights of Ainsley’s examine overseas program in Grenoble was the buddies she made. Pondering again on her favourite reminiscences throughout her time overseas, Ainsley shared: 

“My two closest pals have been from Norway and Iran, and we had quite a lot of enjoyable sharing cultures and exploring France collectively… A fond reminiscence I’ve is having dinner and a sleepover with [them]. It was the weekend earlier than finals—and the weekend earlier than I used to be leaving—so we needed to have one final tremendous enjoyable weekend. We went to a Persian restaurant, as a result of my buddy is Iranian, and we had a number of the most scrumptious meals I’ve ever had there. Then we went again and made cookies, studied, after which acquired all bundled up and watched a film.” 

Are you prepared to take the leap and examine overseas like Ainsley did in Grenoble? We’d love that will help you begin your journey! 

In relation to serving to faculty college students examine overseas, AIFS Overseas is aware of tips on how to do it greatest. Our examine overseas applications give college students house to develop whereas offering devoted help and different beneficial inclusions that assist them take advantage of their time overseas. Cultural and social actions enable college students to make pals and be taught extra about their program vacation spot, whereas 24/7 emergency help, vetted housing, and on-site workers let college students go overseas with confidence. Discover AIFS Overseas to uncover what units an award-winning examine overseas program aside.