French Study Abroad Programs

Studying abroad was the best choice I've ever made. Worldstrides, as a partnership program, was the best. The first week, we met for orientation in Cairns, Australia, and they took care of hotel and excursion expenses (this includes the Great Barrier Reef). It was a great first week getting introduced to Australia and my program. They were very helpful before and during my time in Australia, always there for questions, concerns, and planning a handful of group activities + one overnight trip! They were truly a blessing while abroad.

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.

Got to learn from industry professionals and be pushed out of my comfort zone when it comes to fashion design. They helped me secure internships during Paris Fashion Week and got us collaborations with clothing design companies.

Deciding to study abroad in Lille with WorldStrides was the best decision of my life. The trip to Paris before going to Lille was amazing. The accommodations were nice and the classes were even better. I met the most amazing people who I'm still friends with, I had amazing food, trips and adventures. I would do it all over again and pick WorldStrides for another study abroad too!

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 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.

I can’t put this semester into one paragraph—I think I have been pushed and challenged this semester into a lot of discomfort and confusion. I have been so humbled by my own ignorance and presuppositions. At the same time, I have never felt at home so quickly somewhere. Over the semester, I have come to love the things that made me so uncomfortable—chatting the taxi, bargaining at the market, meeting a stranger on the street and even eating water fufu. From an academic perspective, I have learned so much since being in Cameroon about different cultures and regions, about agriculture and the economy, about colonization and the corruption today that is still rooted in colonial oppression. I learned about a war in the western regions of Cameroon that I’d never heard about before and I got to visit political prisoners every week to learn even more about it. I got to sing in the car with my professor and I danced every week with my host mom at church. I ate so much food this semester, there were some days when I thought I’d never be hungry again. I met people from all around the world, and even a girl from my own small town in Ohio. Cameroon has made my world a little smaller, but it has made my vision of culture, language and relationship so much bigger.

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.

My study abroad in Cordoba helped me grow, pushed my boundaries, and highlighted the parts of my life that I deeply value. I was able to view the world through different perspectives and challenge my ideas of what normal was. Finding new ways in which I fit into communities that looked different from the ones I grew up around helped me find different parts of myself. The global variety of people I was able to meet, talk with, and form deep relationships with, helped me understand myself in brand new ways. Additionally, Spain has so many different places with their own distinct cultures, histories, and communities. Being able to explore the different parts of Spain enriched my study abroad beyond my experiences in Cordoba. Studying abroad completely transformed how I will approach new people and situations in the future and fueled my desire to learn more about the cultures, languages, and people that form the world.

I had a pretty great semester at UL. I thoroughly enjoyed the classes and the professors, but also learned a lot about myself and the Irish people. I joined the Christian Union pretty early on and was welcomed into fellowship with that group. I accompanied some friends of that group into smaller towns I may not have otherwise visited and helped lead churches playing piano. I was welcomed into homes and I really felt loved. I also got to see much of the countryside and felt it easy to travel around to sight see. My time in Ireland is a time where I grew in knowing myself but also my understanding of the world. I loved learning Irish traditions, culture, and history, and I know that I could never know nearly as much by staying home.

I studied in Santiago with Middlebury in Chile, where I was fully immersed in urban Chilean culture while fostering lasting relationships within my program and having the freedom to explore interests, academic and professional alike. The curriculum was the best kind of challenging that pushed me to develop my personal agency, and my Spanish skills absolutely skyrocketed over the course of the semester. I absolutely loved the city of Santiago and its culture; the friendships I made with my cultural mentor, my host family, and the other Midd students were so special. Chile is truly such a welcoming and beautiful country, and I will be forever grateful for the way I was able to fully appreciate it and allow it to shape me and my worldview through immersion.

In my time here, I learned so much about what I am capable of and what the world has to offer. This is largely due to the support of the study abroad team and resources like the writing, counseling, and health centers. I am so proud of all I have accomplished, be it in academics and the things I learned, and in stepping out of my comfort zone and exploring more about Ireland, Irish culture, and how I immerse myself in it. Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this possible for me.

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.

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.

It was honestly the best experience it could have been - Great organization of the study abroad program, easy module selection, broad offer of modules, fun and regular campus activities, a bunch of reserved housing spaces for international students (be fast though) and a great study abroad team that helps with all your worries! I made so many good friends and enjoyed the spring semester immensely. 10/10 would recommend. the only negative part is that Ireland is a pretty expensive country as it is... UL offers a lot of cheaper food options though, that helped!

I studied business in Cork for one semester. USAC staff were extremely helpful with everything from learning about the culture to getting medical care if needed. I had an amazing time in Cork, getting to explore Ireland's nature and (of course) local pubs and coffee shops. While I was there, I was able to visit 16 other countries. I'm glad I had the USAC community, especially when I was homesick. However, I also got to build international friendships with locals and students. I think this program is the best of both worlds -- American friends and direct enrollment at a foreign university. 1000% would recommend.

I always wanted to go back to France and truly understand the meaning of life in another country. The only time traveling to France is to visit family on my mother’s side. So being able to visit the country on my own, in a part of France I have never visited, was an eye opening experience. Living by myself encouraged me to learn how to cook many different platters that I wouldn’t normally have, and pushed me to go out and explore the city. I had great support from the AIFS and CUEF team. Miranda Rea was amazing and helped me through some difficult times. She was encouraging and supportive and without her I believe I’d have a difficult time crossing the finish line. Class was difficult yet fun. I’ve learned so many different grammar rules and learned that even though you make some mistakes, “just know everyone makes mistakes in French. Even the French!”, Professor Kristof would say that to me when I’d make a common mistake that most francophone people do. However, I did catch on pretty quickly since I’m bilingual in French and English. In all, I had a wonderful experience and would recommend this organization to whoever is looking for an exciting learning experience in a different country!