Literature Study Abroad Programs in France

My study abroad was the greatest time of my life. I met countless friends from the United States and all over the world. I have friends that I am actively planning trips to see again in Paris and am coordinating trips in America for my American friends abroad. Within 3 weeks of my return I went from Ohio to Idaho to see a good friend I had met just months earlier. Every night was an adventure. My French is very good. I would love to go back but also inspire others to take that step in their journey.

I studied abroad during session two in Pau, and that was a great decision. One month was the perfect amount of time, and the chosen excursions with the rest of the USAC group were so fun, but just gorgeous and unreal. I especially liked session two because instead of just taking classes with other American students, we took classes with other international students, from China, Scotland, Ukraine, Spain, England, Russia, Ireland, etc. We made some great new friends all over the world, and the overall program that encompassed USAC and the International Students' studies had their own included excursions that gave us a different taste of Pau and the region.

I graduated from high school a semester early, and the only way I wanted to spend my semester was by being abroad. I've known about Semester at Sea for around 6 years and I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. I searched up the requirements to be accepted and luckily fit all the requirements most importantly being 18, so immediately I applied. I then got an email back the next morning saying I got accepted into the program and that email brought me to tears in the middle of one of my classes. I couldn't wait to board the MV World Odyssey and embark on this journey of a lifetime. On the ship, I gained so much knowledge about different cultures and I was able to be fully immersed in them, not just sticking to the touristy things offered. Semester at Sea does an amazing job keeping the students' safety in country as a priority with having mandatory “Pre-Port meetings” the night before arriving in a country, and offering field programs which are ship run excursions with ship faculty leading them. The community on the ship was nothing I have ever experienced before. We were so close knit and it felt like I was truly in a connected, caring, and welcoming environment. I met the people I never imagined I'd connect with, and they ended up becoming the best connections I've ever made with people. Semester at Sea also helped me get out of my comfort zone which led me to have experiences I would have never imagined I'd have, best example being running a half marathon in Vigo, Spain even though I'm not a runner and have never been a runner. Semester at Sea has given me the world and the opportunity to appreciate it to its fullest. I left the ship with my passport full, but my heart is even fuller with people, memories, and connections I will forever cherish. Semester at Sea was truly the best experience I have ever had and would recommend it to anyone as it was life changing.

I recently just returned from Paris where I spent the best 4 months of my life all thanks to WorldStrides!! I met so many amazing people, learned so much about the business world, and was able to travel all around the world!!

I loved my experience in Pau! I had no idea that spending 5 weeks there would alter my life forever. It opened my eyes to how different French culture is in comparison to American culture. When I was little, I idolized my mother because she was my version of the American dream. I wanted to be just as hardworking as her. Now as a college student majoring in biochemistry and minoring in French, I am expected to be ambitious. Whereas my performance looks great on resumes, I often get obsessed with the future. However, when I was in Pau I realized how the locals prioritized living instead of performing. Life is much slower there. People don't often hurry to their next location, adults enjoy parks on weekdays instead of just weekends, and folks seem to appreciate silence instead of distracting themselves with media all the time. Not only did I start adopting some of these habits, but learning a new language encouraged me to think about each word I said. I had to slow down and savor everything I was doing. It was the most present I have ever been and arguably the most I've truly lived in my life. The locals are extremely friendly and will help you learn French. The education at the University of Pau was phenomenal. I felt like being immersed in French and having professors that are willing to work with you was a game changer. I highly recommend this experience even if you don't intend on learning French. Exposing yourself to a new culture may encourage you to reflect on your own lifestyle choices.

One of the most underrated aspect of semester at sea is the ship campus itself. Being able to live so close to your friends and just walking a few flight of stairs to your classroom and being able to sit down with your professors for lunch is such an amazing experience. It's eternal sunsets, it's endless travel stories from your friends, it's lifetime of memories. Highly recommend. One of the best decisions I made. And still day dream about this experience, still talk and travel to meet my SAS friends 4 years later.

I have not experienced anything like semester at sea before, therefore giving me a whole lot of different lenses to look at the world with. I completely enjoyed my experience and understand the importance of understanding others concerns, communication, communities, and countries. A overall wonderful experience that has changed my views as well as the way I live and who I am as a person.

In Pau, I had an incredible experience learning French in an international classroom, where the only shared language between all my peers and I was French. It pushed me out of my comfort zone to speak French every single day and learn new vocabulary and grammar skills. On top of that, I stayed with a wonderful host mom in the center of the historic district of Pau, literally a 3 minute walk from a medieval castle. This made it easy to explore the city and connect with local restaurants, businesses, and festivals.

There was a big group trip I got taken on with people who came abroad with me from other universities in the United States. It was the Paris trip and it was something I’ve been dreaming about since I was little. I got to see the Effile tower for the first time and it was an amazing experience. I almost cried.

I thoroughly enjoyed my semester abroad in Pau. It is a beautiful city in a beautiful country. For the most part, my professors were very friendly and I feel like my French skills improved greatly. I enjoyed the walkability of the city and campus, and would love to visit again in the future. The USAC staff was supportive and I felt like I could go to them with any issues.

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.

I loved every minute of travelling and exploring the city of Paris, the program was really fun and I learned quite a bit. My professor was great and the locations we went to were awesome. Go abroad! It's worth it.

APA Paris is a wonderful program. I felt supported and challenged in all the right ways. From start to finish, I was surrounded by some of the kindest and most patient program coordinators who helped me seamlessly navigate life in a foreign country. The academics offered by the program are engaging and well-tailored to multiple levels in French, and the cultural events and excursions were some of my fondest memories here in Paris. The group of students the program attracted were some of the loveliest people to have spent a semester in Paris with, and the program did an excellent job facilitating a welcoming environment for us to bond. While I felt fully independent and immersed in French culture, the APA office was always there, offering support and a strong community. I could not have asked for a better study abroad experience. Merci APA!

I had an amazing time with APA! The program is run by a kind, considerate and detail-oriented program that emphasizes cultural immersion. We had multiple cultural events that were included with the program including concerts, tastings, as well as overnight stays in French regions. I also opted to stay in a homestay which was a wonderful experience; I really clicked with my host mom and lived in a beautiful Parisian apartment. My French has improved greatly thanks to tutoring and language offerings and I fell in love with Paris. I highly recommend APA to anyone wanting to study abroad in Paris!

I loved my semester with APA. My French has improved tremendously! The teachers, advisor, and administrative support is amazing. I loved that we had the opportunity to take classes with multiple universities based on our interests and the courses at APA are also very well taught. The cultural program is unlike any other, and it gave me a great opportunity to have experiences I never would have had otherwise! I highly recommend this programme!

I had such a blast and I was especially impressed with the extra curricular offerings of APA in comparison with other study abroad programs my friends were doing at the same time! 😁❤️🥳🥐🗼🏠😊🫂🍫🌿

Academic Programs Abroad was definitely the way to go! The level of immersion and cultural offerings that you get are unlike any other, and everything is well organized—yet still personalized, to feel responsive. I highly recommend this program to someone that wants to immerse themselves in the city and have a good time with others.

I felt fully immersed in French culture from the moment I arrived. I believe that the combination of attending a Parisian university and living in an apartment building with other Francophone young adults really helped me feel like I was having a true Parisian experience. I felt supported by the program, but I also had a lot of freedom to live my life independently as much as I liked. I think that the best part for me was my living situation, just because it introduced me to all my closest friends and forced me to speak French frequently. I think I felt like I integrated well into French culture and life without staying within the confines of being an American on an exchange.

When I arrived to Paris, I had forgotten a lot of my french. Because I was forced to constantly hear and speak french, I really was able to improve my skill and now I am able to understand majority of what is said in french and be able to speak in a conversation.

The academics were a little difficult because everything was in French but that is to be expected. APA was amazing and provided such great support. My advisor was amazing and I met such good friends here.