Kiki’s School-Led Program in Paris

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Desirous to observe within the footsteps of a school scholar who studied overseas in France? We not too long ago caught up with Kiki from Fullerton School, who participated in a personalized faculty-led program in Paris in the course of the spring semester. 

Uncover how Kiki’s personalized faculty-led expertise with AIFS Overseas allowed her to reconnect along with her roots and advance her language abilities! 

Selecting a Program Vacation spot 

When you determine you wish to research overseas, it’s worthwhile to determine the place to go. Thankfully, AIFS Overseas affords applications in thrilling cities world wide, permitting you to select from a big selection of choices. For Kiki, selecting France was easy, she needed advance her tutorial profession close to her dad’s hometown: 

“I selected to go to France as a result of I needed to have an expertise overseas whereas revisiting my dad’s dwelling nation and city. This system I used to be on was customized faculty-led, so I’d advocate neighborhood faculty college students all for French language and tradition to participate on this program.” 

Teachers Overseas 

Personalized faculty-led applications allow faculty college students to take part in tutorial applications carried out by school members from their dwelling college. AIFS Overseas gives logistical help, scholar providers, lecture rooms, housing services, and cultural actions at a location overseas, as Kiki explains: 

“Since this was a customized faculty-led program, I used to be nonetheless finding out with Fullerton School, however we had been positioned in lecture rooms situated within the FIAP, which was the coed neighborhood constructing in Paris. I feel it was an amazing expertise, and I loved with the ability to use the services as I studied or waited for my roommate earlier than going dwelling. 

Our courses typically concerned exploration and publicity to Paris or France in a roundabout way. We had been at all times discussing features of the category and the way they associated to our host metropolis. Most of the professors additionally organized area journeys to totally different museums and places to assist domesticate our studying expertise.” 

Language Studying 

Finding out overseas is a wonderful alternative to advance your language abilities, in case you select to take action. Hear Kiki describe how her French improved throughout her time in Paris: 

“I knew the language prematurely and was enrolled in a course to carry my French to a better stage. My language abilities improved considerably throughout my time in France. I picked up on native slang and improved the fluidity of my talking. I like to recommend at all times making an attempt to talk the language of your host nation at the very best of your capacity.” 

Housing 

Housing is supplied for all AIFS Overseas applications, together with our personalized faculty-led applications. Beneath, Kiki describes her expertise in a homestay and reconnecting with relations who reside in France: 

“I used to be in a homestay, and I loved each second of it! My host dad and mom had been extraordinarily variety, and my roommate and I had been pleasantly shocked by their kindness.  

I constructed a detailed friendship with my roommate and constructed a greater relationship with my household out in France. All of us maintained shut communication and revered any boundaries that had been set.” 

Weekend Journeys 

One of many advantages of AIFS Overseas applications is that we embrace journeys in this system value, permitting you to discover your host nation with out the stress of planning. Hear Kiki clarify her AIFS Overseas journey to Avignon: 

“The weekend journey to Avignon was in all probability essentially the most memorable journey we went on. AIFS did an amazing job organizing the journey, and all of us went collectively, so there was loads of bonding time for the scholars.” 

Moreover, you’ll be able to take your personal journeys throughout your program, as Kiki did: 

“I feel one of the memorable [trips] was when my sister, her pal, my roommate, and I went to sleep in a citadel in Dijon for a pair nights. It was simply so fantastical and a lot enjoyable to have the ability to have a slower day to calm down within the countryside with none social obligations.” 

Budgeting Overseas 

Prices are an element for a lot of college students who wish to research or intern overseas. You need to take into account the price of this system itself and funds accordingly whilst you’re overseas. 

Thankfully, AIFS Overseas is completely satisfied to just accept any current monetary support packages which are accepted by your faculty—simply ensure to talk together with your Monetary Assist workplace! As well as, we encourage college students to use for our scholarships, which might help lighten the monetary load. 

Beneath, Kiki discusses her numerous scholarships and the way she budgeted in France: 

“I used to be fortunate sufficient to obtain the Gilman Scholarship, in addition to the AIFS ambassador scholarship and two smaller scholarships from Fullerton School. I saved my cash via working a number of jobs and restricted my spending to assist me lower your expenses for my journey. I additionally participated in numerous fundraising actions equivalent to promoting crepes, chocolate, and even beginning a GoFundMe. I’d advocate [that] college students start saving as quickly as they know they’re contemplating finding out overseas. I feel artistic fundraising is a GREAT method to assist construct funding for research overseas. I’d additionally advocate that they apply for scholarships. It by no means hurts to use even when they are saying no.” 

Closing Ideas from Kiki 

For anybody contemplating finding out overseas, Kiki affords the next recommendation: 

“In the event you’re excited about going, simply go and do that program! There may be a lot you’re going to be taught, and also you’ll construct connections with people who find themselves going to vary your life. I can’t stress sufficient how a lot this expertise goes to vary your perspective and also you as an individual.” 

Kiki leaves you with this closing reflection on her personalized faculty-led expertise with AIFS Overseas: 

“My research overseas expertise is sort of presumably one of many primary highlights of my life, and I can’t consider it actually occurred. I’m so grateful for the alternatives I’ve been blessed with since and might’t wait to see what else is in retailer for me.” 

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

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty 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 help, on-site employees, and extra, you’ll take consolation in figuring out you’ll have help all through your total expertise overseas.