Study Abroad Programs in Bordeaux, France

Spending five months in Paris was one of the most influential experiences I've had---Paris being the first time I have ever lived in a big city really set the bar high. I lived with a host family in the 13th arrondissement where I felt incredibly at home (with the whole city accessible through just a few metro lines) and had the opportunity to fully immerse myself in different cultures. Being able to take courses at a French institution really opened my eyes to a different country's education system, and allowed me to learn a lot while also making local friendships. Middlebury's program itself is really amazing. Having to live, study, and form relationships in a foreign language is not necessarily easy, but Midd provided tools and support needed to ensure our success. The connections that I've built, both to people and to Paris, are immeasurable.

I had an amazing time studying abroad with Middlebury in Paris. I decided to live with a host family, and my host mother was sweet, accomodating, and helped me improve my French a lot. I lived in Paris's 13th arrondisement, in Chinatown, and the experience of living in a part of the city I might have not thought to visit if I wasn't living there was super interesting. I loved finding hidden gems around my neighborhood and the city as a whole.Taking classes at Middlebury with the other American students was a helpful anchor to my experience as I navigated a lot of new experiences -- taking classes in my second language at a local university, traveling solo for the first time, and more.

Living in Paris was an expansive experience. It challenged me in a lot of ways, and helped me grow because of it. Paris is such a beautiful city, with spectacles and beautiful architecture and people and a moving, dynamic current. There's always something to do, someone to see. It’s city to get lost in and find yourself again. It’s a city designed for people, for connection, for community. If I could, I'd do it all over again. The Middlebury Program is a great way to immerse yourself. With a host family, and a balance of local and program-led classes, and a lot of independence, you are sure to find yourself getting to know a great city. I found the language support really helpful, and I was able to meet a bunch of people, either local or through the program or through different study abroad schools. I’m really grateful for the opportunity it gave me.

I had an incredible semester in Bordeaux with the Middlebury Schools Abroad. I think the highlight of my 4 months there was living with my host family, they were so supportive and helpful with any questions I had about life in Bordeaux. I loved having the freedom to explore this new city on my own and with friends from the program and other international students. The French university system is very different from the United States so it definitely took some getting used to, but other than that it was so interested to learn in a new environment.

I really loved Bordeaux throughout my experience there! The size of the city was perfect for me, not too big and overwhelming, but still offered new and different activities to do each weekend. The bordelaise people were always kind and understanding, and especially respected the fact that I wanted to practice my French - even though they could tell I was American. Living with my host family was part of what made my experience so special; they were always pushing me to try typical French foods, learn local slang, explore new corners of the city, and they would check up on me every night at dinner. I felt a lot of freedom and independence in Bordeaux which allowed me to be myself at all times, and especially allowed me to delve into the culture enthusiastically. I would recommend Bordeaux to anyone learning French!

I had a wonderful experience at Middlebury's Paris program. It offered the perfect mix of independence and support. By living in a foyer, I was able to make French friends, one of whom even visited me back at Middlebury this fall. As the only American in my residence hall, I was completely immersed in French language and culture. The direct-enrollment classes at a local university and my internship also permitted me to get a sense of what daily life is like for a real French student. At the same time, however, I was incredibly well supported by Middlebury staff. I took a great class on French politics at the Middlebury center that was accompanied by outings in the city to see a play and a film related to course material. I also enjoyed Middlebury's cultural offerings, including trips to the opera, a wine and cheese night, and an overnight trip to Normandie. Overall, Midd's Paris program presents the ideal combination of freedom to explore French life and the structural supported needed as a new international student in a big city.

I had the best time during my study abroad experience in Paris. I learned so much about the language, culture, food, history, art, and about the city itself. I fully immersed myself in the French language by directly enrolling into a Parisian University as an international student, where I studied French and Comparative Literatures. I also enjoyed my classes at the Middlebury Center, where I improved my grammar skills, informal French speaking, and knowledge about the way politics and society function in France and in the EU. I also made life-long friends while at the center, and I connected with people from so many backgrounds. Finally, my favorite part of this experience was being able to explore new parts of the city each and every day. I got to know Paris from a local's perspective and found my favorite quartiers away from the crowds. I discovered small art galleries and museums. I also ate the best pastries and foreign cuisines of my entire life. This was truly a life-changing experience.

In a word, Paris was unforgettable. I learned to live in a city by myself, I learned to get lost, I learned to navigate challenging social situations, I learned how to live outside my comfort zone. Whether it was the improvement in my language skills, my newfound confidence in making friends, or all the museums, restaurants, and places that I got to see, Study Abroad was one of the best things I have ever done.

I had a really wonderful timing during my semester studying abroad at SciencesPo Bordeaux with Middlebury's School in France. I chose Bordeaux because I wanted to study in a city other than the capital of a country. I felt it would be a more immersive experience, a more manageable city to explore during one semester, and perhaps even a little less expensive with respect to day to day spending than Paris. I also wanted a very immersive experience so I chose to live with a host family and commit to eating most of my meals with them. My host family was one of, if not the, most impactful parts of my stay in France. They were incredibly welcoming -- I was treated like part of the family from the day I arrived. Our dinner time conversations and weekends spent together were the most instrumental part of my French improvement. I also loved my time at Sciences Po Bordeaux. The academics were rigorous -- I had to put in time and care into my classes and school work -- and I learned a great deal. I made friends at the local university and participated in various outings and events (a wine gala and an overnight backpacking trip in the Pyrenees mountains). I so enjoyed France that I returned for an internship in Paris the following summer and have declared a French major.

My experience with Middlebury in Paris was excellent. It is clearly a program that knows what it is doing and how to effectively run an abroad program, through academics and student support. There was a wide array of people working at the Middlebury center, each of whom I felt I could go to with different concerns, and all of whom were deeply connected to many resources around the city. There were definitely moments of crisis and anxiety, but we were given the proper resources most of the time to deal with the issues.

I had a great experience in Paris on the whole. I enjoyed my classes, the close proximity with native French speakers, and the opportunity to immerse myself in a city and country with such a rich history and culture. At times it was hard to find community because of the nature of being in a foreign city, but generally, these moments are compensated by the fact that there is so much to do and discover in Paris.