IES Abroad Paris – French Studies

Overall great experience studying abroad with IES (French Studies - Paris). The orientation prior to leaving for the semester was thorough and helpful; when I had questions I emailed and always got a helpful response. One thing that was stressful prior to leaving was my class schedule and housing situations not being released until very close to my departure date. I'm not sure if this is the case for all study abroad programs, but compared to my friends in other programs I felt like my classes and housing assignment were released quite late (within weeks of my departure date). It would have been nice to know my housing to make leaving for abroad more comfortable. During the program though, there were plenty of fun activities and opportunities to meet other students! I took a macaron making class and always took part in the bi-weekly snack break at the center (where my classes were). The staff was very helpful with figuring out classes and recommendations for things to do and places to see. I had a great time!

I spent a semester in Paris with IES Abroad. Through this program I was able to take classes on the colonization of francophone Africa, feminism movements in France, and a sociology course, along with my grammar course. These classes were instrumental in broadening my worldview and how I view social movements and the perspectives of other cultures. I was able to gain a better understanding of how history can shape right and wrong and influence political discourse, not only for France but the ways in which the same has been done here in the United States in a way that is unique to America. Also, thanks to this program I was able to complete an internship. This experience was invaluable, not only in helping me gain an understanding of French culture on another level, but in improving my language skills, and giving me experience that will be invaluable as I continue to move forward in my professional life. My internship was with an organization called Afrika Tiss, which is a fair trade organization that works specifically with female artisans and Malian refugees in Burkina Faso. In Ouagadougou the artisans there make jewelry, bags, and home accessories that are later sold in France as well as other countries. The production works on a small scale, but everything is made by hand in a way that preserves ancestral patterns and skills while also adding a modern touch. I met some incredible people through this internship and I learned a lot about humanitarian work and what that looks like from the inside. IES from the beginning was very clear and helpful in terms of telling me what I would need while I was there and everything I would need to do before. The staff onsite was incredibly helpful in determining what courses would be best for me and for helping me find my internship. They had multiple excursions that helped me meet other students in the program and they also had so many meetings that helped me get acclimated to French culture and prepared me for the types of things that I might experience in my first few weeks in Paris. From the beginning the staff was readily available to help me and provide me with advice to help guide me through the early and often times difficult stages of my transition into Parisian culture. Even better, the entire staff was open to the suggestions of students so that they could continue to better the program for future classes of students. Overall the program was instrumental in helping me discover myself and broaden my education not only in an academic setting but also from an intercultural perspective.

I studied abroad in the fall of 2018 with IES French Studies in Paris. I chose to stay with a host family and I am so happy I did- they made me feel welcomed and comfortable in an unfamiliar environment and introduced me to aspects of French culture that I wouldn’t have been able to experience otherwise. Over the course of the semester, my French language skills improved immensely. One of my favorite things about Paris is that there is always something to do and the city is so rich in history and culture. I was able to travel outside of Paris a number of weekends and explore different cities around Europe, each introducing me to something new and broadening my perspectives. Studying abroad has brought me a greater awareness of what opportunities the world holds. I will forever consider my time in Paris as one of the most enriching, rewarding, and influential experiences in my life!