Filmmaking Study Abroad Programs in France

Study abroad in general is a life-changing experience, but CIEE has a built-in community that you can always run back to. The teachers are extremely passionate and kind, and they feel a little more like friends than teachers. Being forced to be in class with the same few people creates relationships fast, and the classes feel more like friendly hangouts than classes. I love the CIEE activities as they gave me experiences I wouldn't have had on my own. CIEE also has scholarships available that make it possible to have the study abroad experience, and I am extremely grateful for receiving those scholarships.

My time in Aix-en-Provence was the best decision I have ever made. I got hands-on experience with the french language and massively improved my skills. The semester abroad was also a great chance for me to be independent and practice the skills needed to live alone.

CIEE is a well-thought-out passage for students to experience diverse cultures and people who approach life differently than what they're accustomed to. CIEE makes a noticeable effort to ensure that the students studying abroad are engaged and immersed in the new environment that they're now immersed in. Ensuring that the students are fully aware and engaged with the changed and new environment around them is essential to creating the most fulfilling and transformative experience. With all the changes to the student's physical and social environment, there warrants an opportunity to expand on the grace granted to the student's physical well-being while embarking on such a transformative experience. When entering a new environment our bodies go through a variety of changes that if not nurtured properly can lead to greater physical and emotional issues down the road. CIEE's' attendance policy for a class is warranted to ensure they're engaged but is unforgiving if the student experiences any health complications

I absolutely loved studying abroad with AIFs. Our tour manager Edu was the greatest- he was so personable and ensured that we always felt comfortable talking to him or reaching out if something was wrong. He was always with us and made our experience more personal. As for the program, I was so grateful to travel to three countries AND for our locations to always be in amazing spots of the city! Everywhere we stayed was beautiful. I loved all of our excursions as well! Overall a really really great trip.

I had an extremely immersive experience, with just the right amount of structure and guidance. it was my first time in France and i could not imagine arriving without having CIEE to help me feel comfortable.

Studying abroad in Southern France this past summer was by far the best experience of my life! Though I was there for 6 weeks, I knew that time would go by quickly and I would need to take in every second of it. I visited museums, historical sites, and signed up for anything that I could that would help me to experience the local culture. Studying abroad with CEA in particular was great because they made transitioning so effortless. When you get there, they discuss rules, places you should visit, how to get around, what to expect while you are abroad, and much more. Our on cite-specialists truly did become our parents for the 6 weeks we were there and the people I studied abroad with were my new family. Overall, I can confidently say that studying abroad has helped to grow my cultural footprint, and has made me a more open and healthy well-rounded individual. In those 6 weeks, I was able to interact and work with people from other countries, understand the layers and intricacy of global issues, and have greater intercultural learning. I believe that those are things that are learned through practice and experience. Because of how meaningful my experience abroad was, I am currently working towards moving and starting a career in France.

CEA responded to this reviewJanuary 07, 2020

Thank you for your review, Rohanna! We are so glad to hear you had a wonderful semester with CEA in Aix. “Studying abroad has helped to grow my cultural footprint” is music to our ears. We hope you’ll stop by and say “bonjour” the next time you find yourself in France (perhaps on your career path there!), and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors! 

I thoroughly enjoyed my semester abroad. While the classes that I took unfortunately were not the best (my professor was very kind but he rambled on and on, so I listened a lot but did not get a change to improve my speaking that way), what truly helped my language level improve was by immersing myself in the community. I found a facebook page for babysitters and nounous in aix en Provence and I got a few babysitting jobs, all in French. Those few hours a week speaking to the kids and families were more worthwhile than my time spent in the classroom. Also my conversations with my host mom were invaluable in the long run and I saw my progress improve over the course of the semester.

CEA responded to this reviewJune 06, 2019

Thank you for your review, Jasmine. We are glad you had a positive experience abroad and took advantage of language and cultural immersion opportunities. We always look to improve our programs, so if there are any further suggestions you would like to add to provide the best Aix-perience possible, please reach out to us. We wish you the best!

My experience in Aix with CEA was unforgettable and absolutely life-changing. Not only did I meet great friends whom I'm sure will be friends for life, but I was able to immerse myself in the culture, all while feeling completely protected by CEA. CEA did an amazing job off helping me get to France, and also offering awesome cultural excursions for us. Aix is an absolutely beautiful town, and is a great location for those looking to travel. The school was also very nice and the teachers and faculty really cared about your education. While I, personally, did not love the specific academic program I was in, it was still an amazing experience that taught me many things. I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

CEA responded to this reviewMay 28, 2019

Mackenzie, we are so glad to hear your experience was unforgettable and life-changing! It’s music to our ears to hear our CEA staff were helpful throughout your experience. Thank you for sharing your review, and if there is anything you would like to share about your academic experience, please feel free to email us at [email protected]. Be sure to stop by and say “bonjour” the next time you find yourself in Aix!

Travelling alone to a foreign place is stressful and tedious to plan! CEA began helping me prepare even before I signed up. That is how dedicated they are to ensuring you have a great experience abroad. They always answered my questions within 48 hours (no matter how small they were) and sent many personal reminder emails as the deadlines for forms got closer. When arriving in Aix, there were a few excursions included and the onsite staff was very helpful when I had no idea what I was doing the first few weeks. Don't worry about looking dumb because there are so many others who feel the same way. In addition to study abroad, I participated in the Mobile Journalist (MOJO) program with CEA as well. With this, I took photos, videos, and made blog posts throughout the semester. Choosing to be a mobile journalist was such a great idea for me because it allowed me to share my photography with a wider community. I would recommend CEA because of their willingness to go above and beyond to help you, the included excursions, and the housing restriction that says the student must be placed in housing within walking distance of the university. To anyone hesitant about going abroad, there are so many people there to help you get to your host city and adjust to life in a foreign country.

CEA responded to this reviewMay 28, 2019

Thank you for your thoughtful and thorough review, Ashleigh! We’re so happy to hear you had a positive experience in Aix with CEA, and your notes will help guide future students when researching their own study abroad destinations. We are so appreciative of your contributions as a CEA MOJO, too! We wish you all the best in your future endeavors, Ashleigh!

Spending a semester in France made me more than a little nervous - I was going to be there for four months, speaking my second language, and meeting entirely new people. CEA was amazing in facilitating my experience though. From my arrival until my departure, I knew the awesome CEA staff had my back and were there for me if I needed them. My classes were fantastic and unique - unlike the normal classes I would have taken at my home university - and the cultural excursions were indescribable. While I enjoyed all my traveling, the CEA excursions were my favorite. They were well-organized so you could visit the place you were going to but also have free time to relax a bit, and the food was always fantastic. If CEA offers any kind of food, you have to take it. I really loved going abroad with CEA, and I would recommend it to anyone considering a study abroad program.

CEA responded to this reviewApril 12, 2019

Thank you for your thoughtful review of your time in Aix-en-Provence with CEA! “Fantastic and unique” is such a wonderful way to describe your courses and experiences abroad. Your suggestions will help guide future CEA students considering the Aix study abroad program!

I loved studying abroad in Aix. It's such a beautiful city with a strong history and breathtaking architecture. The center is very walkable and accessible. The Cours Mirabeau is the most iconic promenade street where a market takes place in the morning to mid-afternoon. In every corner, you can find amazing, ornate fountains of all shapes and sizes. A fun way to get acquainted with the city is to walk around and find as many fountains as you can! These fountains can then serve as rendezvous places or points of reference so you don't get lost during the first few weeks. What I loved the most about living in Aix was able to experience life in Provence. Through CEA excursions, I was able to discover many beautiful, small villages nearby that show the calm, rural life in various areas in Provence. One of my favorite experiences was visiting the village of Trets during their garlic festival. We were able to dance and interact with the locals, which really helped with language acquisition. These small villages are hidden wonders. Aix's wonderful program advisers have very detailed handouts explaining transportation to several of these villages, their history, and things to do and see. If they do no have a handout for a specific location, they will go out of their way to help you research. I really enjoyed my language course because I was in such a diverse class, which gave me such a distinct experience. There were students from at least four different countries, from youth to middle-aged students who were all there to learn French for different reasons, not just to study abroad. It made me open my eyes and feel even more grateful for the amazing opportunity and choice to study abroad. I felt at home with host family. By the end of the program, it was very hard to say goodbye.

CEA responded to this reviewDecember 28, 2018

Andrea, we are so happy to hear you had such a wonderful experience in Aix with CEA. Your thoughtful and detailed review will help future students when deciding upon a study abroad program! Your contributions as a CEA MOJO have been so appreciated and will serve to inspire and inform our future students as well. We wish you the best in 2019 and beyond, and be sure to stop by and say “bonjour” should you find yourself back in Aix!

Forum-Nexus is a great program. The staff, and professors are amazing. As you travel form city to city they are with you, and available to answer any questions you may have. It was great taking courses and increasing my education through the classes, but also by being able to get to know each city we were in. I had never been to Europe prior to the program, and it was amazing to be able to experience it for the first time with Forum-Nexus.

Living in Aix en Provence for four months allowed me to grow and learn far more than I could have hoped for. Southern France has an inviting culture full of relaxation and enjoyment of each passing moment. The days were often full of sunshine allowing for endless exploration of the charming provencal town. I was so happy experimenting with new foods, visiting parks and cafes, meeting the locals and going to class. My experience was about being in the present moment, being here now, and not always being so caught up with the past or future. This program was beyond amazing and let me live my best life, I highly recommend it.

CEA responded to this reviewJune 27, 2018

Julia, we’re so glad you explored Aix-en-Provence to the fullest. Thanks for sharing your experience and best of luck for your future! - CEA

This past summer, I studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France for six weeks. I lived in a homestay with a divorced mother and her 20 year old daughter. They spoke just a few words of English. Shortly after landing in France, I was welcomed by Alexia and her mom, Karen. They were so warm and welcoming and made me feel at home which is exactly what I needed since I was 4,000 miles away from home and everything I knew for the very first time. My first night in Aix was very overwhelming and kind of rough but I felt a million times better less than 24 hours later, meeting the CEA staff. Throughout the six weeks, I knew there was always someone to talk to in the CEA office, which was conveniently located just around the corner from school. I would completely recommend CEA to someone who is interested in studying abroad. In addition to the exceptional staff, they also offered several excursions that other programs did not have. We had an all day excursion in the medieval town of Les Baux de Provence and smaller activities in the city like wine tasting and soap making. We even had an amazing farewell dinner a few days before our program ended. Studying abroad with CEA was an amazing experience that I would recommend to everyone. I cannot imagine having gone abroad any other way!

CEA responded to this reviewJune 19, 2018

Meghan, thank you for sharing such an honest and open recount of your experience studying abroad with us in Aix-en-Provence. We are happy to hear your homestay family helped to quickly alleviate the anxiety of being immersed in a completely different culture. - CEA

I absolutely loved my time abroad. Of course, there are ups and downs; it is definitely a challenge, but everything was worth it. I have made friends that I still travel with, I learned more about myself and life in such unexpected ways, and I now have a new home. Aix is the perfect place to study abroad: it's close to the big city (easy travel access), close to the beach and other natural beauty, the culture is FANTASTIC, and the life in a small city is the best of both worlds. Aix has so much to do, while still being safe and easy to walk around in. You truly develop your own life there and it's magical. While being relatively small, you get immersed in the culture really well. Vivienne and Nancy are amazing guides and second mothers to everyone I studied with. My host mom and I still talk and I will never forget her delicious French dinners. I would never trade this experience for the world. Wish I could bask in the Provencal sun while drinking wine and eating baguette and cheese again <3.

CEA responded to this reviewJune 05, 2018

What a magical experience you’ve shared. Thank you! We love to hear stories about students that stay in touch with their homestay families. - CEA

Studying abroad in Aix was truly incredible. I have never had a semester filled with so much beauty before. From making lifelong friends, to having picnics in the park, to traveling nearly every weekend, to eating the most delicious and clean food - everything about my time in Aix was nothing short of breath taking. CEA was a phenomenal program to go through. Their pre departure help was very informative and they were sure to email you with updates about where you should be with your application. Upon arriving in Aix, the staff there went above and beyond. They picked us up from the airport, gave us a scavenger hunt activity so we got to know the city, organized weekend bus excursions and their door was always open if we ever wanted to talk. Some of my favorite memories though.... - hiking Mount St Victoire and realizing I have a fear of heights! LOL - eating an enormous amount of croissants AND fresh veggies every day - becoming buds with the coffee guy next to our school - learning from some of the smartest professors I have ever had Studying abroad is truly a once in a lifetime experience and something that you will never stop unpacking.

CEA responded to this reviewOctober 02, 2018

Hi Shannon! Thanks for sharing a vivid recollection of your time studying abroad. We’re glad you made memories that will last a lifetime and wish you the very best! -CEA

Studying abroad in Aix through CEA was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The CEA office was always so helpful and answered my many questions leading up to leaving for the program. Upon arrival and throughout the entirety of my semester, the staff and interns were extremely helpful and almost always available to answer every question. One of the CEA interns even accompanied me to a pharmacy to help me explain something about my medication when I needed help. There were tons of "free" (included) activities and frequent opportunities for awesome experiences. I would recommend this semester to everyone!

CEA responded to this reviewOctober 02, 2018

Jackie, we are so glad you experienced the level of support we aim for with all of our programs. Thanks for sharing and best of luck! -CEA

Forum-Nexus was the best decision I have ever made. This program is so unique in that there is something for everyone. There are courses available for all majors, and there are destinations that will captivate everyone’s tastes. Whether you are a lover of the busy city streets or a quiet small town in the mountains, you will see it all. I gained so much international experience as well as such an appreciation for cultural differences. The classes were interesting, relevant, and put me ahead on my track to graduation. The staff members are so intelligent, fun, and help make you feel safe / comfortable transitioning into an international setting. There is so much time to balance social activities with studies. I was able to explore the night life in each town, go on independent excursions, and bond with other students in the program. I left this trip with an entire new network of best friends (many of which I still keep in daily contact with) and I feel more excited than ever to continue traveling and expanding my cultural intelligence. There are scholarships available so take advantage of them and go abroad with Forum Nexus! You will not regret it.

-Challenging and varied courses all taught in French -Various living options -Great location, touristy but easy to get around -Moderate climate: warm but always windy -Program-sponsored events such as wine and cheese tastings, excursions, weekly café meetings -Friendly and helpful administrative staff

This program has been absolutely incredible. There have been so many people that we’ve met, so many places we’ve seen, and so many things that we’ve experienced. Our program leaders are the sweetest people on the planet, and want nothing more than for us to feel comfortable and happy during our stay here. The school is so incredible, and I feel like I’m actually learning the language. The program with CEA is called, French Language and Culture. The program itself definitely lives up to the name. We have been on so many cultural excursions in France as well as a really cool trip to Barcelona! We meet great new people who teach us so many things about french culture (including delicious food) and french language. I love this program and I honestly believe that this was one of the best decisions in my life, and I would definitely do it again in a heartbeat.