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Eager to follow in the footsteps of a college student who studied abroad in France? We recently caught up with Savannah from the University of Alabama, who did a study abroad program in Paris during the summer.
Read on to learn how Savannah’s experience with AIFS Abroad helped her get out of her shell and advance her French language skills!
Choosing a Study Abroad Destination & Term
Despite all of the amazing options you get with AIFS Abroad, choosing a study abroad destination and term isn’t always easy. Savannah chose Paris because of its world-famous culture and easy access to other cities:
“I chose Paris, France because of how much I knew there was to do and explore culturally and the ability to travel to other places cheaply and efficiently. I knew that CDG was a major airport and the metro could take you there. I wanted to make the most of my time abroad, because I knew I wouldn’t get this opportunity any other time in my life. I feel that any student interested in culture and history… a true city experience, and… travel would benefit from a program there.”
If you can’t study abroad during the school year, a summer program is the perfect option, as Savannah explains:
“I chose summer because, as a nursing student, there is truly no other time to do it. Tourism was at an all-time high with the Olympics being held only a week after I left and that almost deterred me, but I ended up having a great experience…”
Academics Abroad
Studying abroad gives you the chance to immerse yourself in an entirely new university experience. Hear why Savannah’s academic experience in Paris was so special:
“I attended the Institut Catholique de Paris which was a beautiful school. I absolutely loved the experience… Shockingly, the dining hall stood out to me a lot and the architecture. They had great meals at a low cost, and it was right by the Jardin du Luxembourg which was so nice between classes.”
Many study abroad classes give you the chance to meet other students from around the world, as Savannah did:
“There were no other AIFS students in my specific class, however we had students from Hong Kong, Mexico, and the U.S. in my class which was a cool experience. We got to have conversations and learn about other cultures, all with the mutual language of French!
We spent a class period going to a local French restaurant and talking in French and bonding, which was really cool and helped me to feel a part of the culture. We also had a day where we created questions and went out of the school and asked locals! They were surprisingly very kind and receptive to our questions.”
Language Learning
Did you know you do not need to speak a second language to study abroad? While some programs do require language proficiency, many don’t require any prior language knowledge, as with Savannah’s program:
“I did not need to know the language in advance, however having studied French for a few years, I felt a lot more prepared. I can’t even begin to express how much my language skills improved and my best advice is just to try! Even if the waiter speaks English right back at you, the effort was there and will be rewarded by getting better every day! I would recommend striking up conversation where you can and putting in the effort to grow.”
Making Friends Abroad
While you’re welcome to study abroad with friends from home, many students go abroad by themselves and end up making lifelong friends during their program. Hear Savannah describe her experience making friends in Paris:
“This might have been the coolest part of my abroad experience. Not only did I fall in love with France in so many ways, but I also have friends from all over the United States and the world. One of my favorite things in life is time with others and building connections and study abroad brought me out of my shell and helped me to grow as a person and friend. I would tell others to rely on the people in your program and attend all of the events, plans, and excursions.”
AIFS Abroad Trips & Activities
Savannah recommends attending the AIFS Abroad activities and excursions for good reason—not only are they included in the cost of your program, but they’re also excellent opportunities to make friends and deepen your cultural understanding of your host country. Below, Savannah outlines a few of the AIFS Abroad activities she attended:
“I attended both the welcome and farewell dinners, city tour, Versailles tour, opera tour, and the boat tour! The people were so much fun and these were things I may not have been able to do or afford without the help of AIFS staff and their planning. I am so thankful for these excursions and the fun experiences it brought me!”
Why AIFS Abroad?
There are many reasons to choose AIFS Abroad, including our array of quality programs around the world, on-site support staff, housing, trips, and social and cultural activities. For Savannah, the decision to choose AIFS Abroad was clear after she did some research online:
“I had heard about AIFS before any other organization due to its popularity online and suggestion on platforms such as Reddit. I heard that people had great experiences and that there were options beyond just a full semester or year abroad, which was important due to my time constraints.”
Hear why Savannah was so glad she chose us as her study abroad provider:
“The AIFS staff in Paris truly were the best resource. They helped me so much when I found myself [getting sick] from food poisoning on the metro and it meant the world. I honestly didn’t worry for a moment because I knew they were supporting me. Every single one of them played a part in making my experience abroad what it was, and I would praise them for it all day long!”
Are you a student ready to take the leap and study abroad like Savannah did in Paris with AIFS Abroad? We’d love to help you start your journey!
Here at AIFS Abroad, we know a thing or two about helping college students study abroad. Our programs are incredibly inclusive, which takes a lot of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to providing things like cultural and social activities, excursions, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and more, you’ll take comfort in knowing you’ll have support throughout your entire experience abroad.