Countries | France | Poitiers | Student Comments

Overall Value of the Experience:

“It wasn’t easy, but I didn’t expect it to be. I learned too much to explain, I have a more solid direction in life, and I’ve made wonderful friends.”

“I learned a lot about other parts of the world and became a little more comfortable with myself. It also made stuff like traveling and relocating seem more manageable and I’m more likely now to do stuff like that in the future. It has been a very enriching experience and I’m really glad I came.”

“My year abroad was nothing like I could have ever imagined. The surrealism of being home is only wearing off with the newfound surrealism that I will soon be home where people speak breezy English and where I have a family that has known me all my life. It has been an interesting concept this year to constantly present myself to new people and new things, a challenge at times, but all has been worth it in the end. My experience abroad has been extraordinary in the best and worst ways. I wouldn’t trade it for the anything.”

“I don’t think there are words to describe it… it is something that needs to be lived…words only go so far.”

Academic Program:

“I much prefer the US educational system. I took a feminism class, and I was the only student to ever ask questions! The students take notes, listen to the professor, and take the exam. The first semester, I had an excellent professor at CFLE. I got used to professors at CFLE criticizing my work in front of the entire class. That’s just part of the French educational system.”

“In general I was fairly impressed by the teachers for the CFLE (French as a second language). The class size was great, usually only 20-25 students. The only things I really didn’t care for in the French education system was the critiquing of papers and grades in front of the entire class and how long it took to figure out a schedule (usually just a couple days before the semester started).”

“The environment is not as open and casual as we are used to as Americans. The distance between the professor and the students is substantial and respected and appreciated on both ends. This was hard for me. I felt unknown sometimes in class, whereas at SOU my professors are also my friends. In the classes for foreign students, the atmosphere was much more comfortable and the distance not as large. However there is definitely a structure to classes and assignments that leaves a little imagination and individual variation.”

“This system is one where you must work on your own. The professors present you with the material and then expect you to make sure you know it. Professors are very friendly and understanding and are always willing to help.”

“The French university system overall is stricter and more demanding academically than U.S. universities, but less well organized. The rigorousness of the courses was refreshing because I was able to learn more than in US classes that are more relaxed. The lack of organization was frustrating but I got used to it. I really liked the English literature class I took because it was structured very different than literature classes in the U.S. Learning the French model of textual analysis gave me skills I’ll be able to use in English classes back home. The language classes were, in general, excellent, and the work I did obviously greatly improved my language abilities.”

“I felt a bit lost. I am so used to having everything organized and figured out before classes even start. Here one must wait until the first or second week of school; then things are just hectic and confusing. Also the way teachers criticize papers etc. in front of the entire class can be shocking. Librarian resources were adequate, easy to find and had good hours. Grading seemed a bit shocking - number wise -- but the equivalent turned out actually not bad. If I had applied myself more, I would have done better. Teachers were friendly open, willing to help whenever needed!”

Living in Poitiers

The Town:

“Wonderful! Poitiers is really a student-centered city with a really great, compact downtown and stuff to do all the time. There’s a monthly publication called Affiche Itebdo that tells you everything that’s going on. There’s a great music scene in Poitiers. I like the location; Paris is only 1 ½ hours by train, and La Rochelle is the same (the ocean). There is also a small airport with regular (and sometimes CHEAP) flights to London and Lyon.”

“Poitiers is excellent! It isn’t huge but the town is beautiful and full of life. There is always something going on and people are kind. I feel safe and really at home here. Though it is unfortunate how much ‘poo’ there is and homeless. It is a great site for International Study close to so much in France. There is also so much history in town and in the region and lots of students from all over.”

“It’s interesting to meet people from different countries, but it also poses difficulties because rather than immersing yourself in French culture, you tend to get immersed in international student culture and it makes it harder to integrate. But it’s also much easier to make friends with other int’l students than with already-established French students, and there is a certain degree of community among int’l students.”

“This is a quaint little town, very manageable. It has many bars and café’s for socializing, great restaurants and it is very centralized meaning very easy to get around. I never felt unsafe here in day or night.”

“Poitiers is not by any means a large city, but because it has 25,000 students there are a fair amount of things to do and see. There are great bars and café’s and beautiful churches everywhere. There is a pretty good size international population because of the students who are studying at the French language school.”

“I loved Poitiers. It was big enough to be interesting and not so large that it was overwhelming. Plus it has an enormous student population, with French and international and that provided an excellent space for learning.”

Accommodations:

“I lived with a host family in Centre Ville first semester. It was a great location, but I did not like living with them at all. They hardly even spoke to me because they thought since I was older than the last student who lived with them (I’m 22), I’d want more space. Second semester, I lived with a family in Buxerolles which was a lot better.”

“I actually lived with three different families. The first two were not particularly wonderful but the third turned out to be incredible and really made the rest of my year wonderful. I would definitely recommend a homestay for at least part of the year. After that it really depends on the student and whether they wish to remain with a family or find another place.”

“I lived with a French woman and her 19 year old son. I had my own room with a bathroom, but I was usually out in the living room/dining room hanging out with them. From the very beginning Anne-Marie went out of her way to make me feel welcome and that counted for a lot. Plus I experienced learning so much from being with them. They were patient with my progression and encouraging. If you can, live in a homestay or apartment with native speaker. It is an amazing experience and you form very strong ties by the time you get to know one another.”

“Homestay is invaluable; it forces you to speak and to listen, therefore forcing you to learn. But remember all of this forcing is positive forcing! Now I have a room to myself. It has been wonderful to have another view of life here. The independence is really wonderful.”

“ My dorm room at Marie Curie was nice, comfortable, and I probably had more privacy than any of the other students. But this made it easy to become isolated, both a good and bad thing. Dorms provide an opportunity to meet French students, although some students on my hall were very loud and annoying, so I tended to hide in my room.”

“My homestay was very welcoming, Less distressing to immediately have all the comforts of home on arrival and not have to worry about finding bedding, food etc. I was exposed to an amazing amount of French culture. Helping them out also made me feel more like family and less like a guest.”

Finances

“Everything adds up fast.”

“I found that the monthly allowance sufficed, but I was in a generous host family. Traveling in Europe was more expensive than I had expected.”

“Living in a dorm helped me spend less because rent was so cheap. I just paid for food and cell phone.”

On-Site Support:

“She was always extremely helpful if you came in and asked her specific questions.”

“I believe Sylvie is very helpful and efficient…she is willing to bend over backwards for students and she also manages to be a friend and just a fun lady.”

“Sylvie really was extremely helpful and patient with all kinds of logistical problems, and I felt lucky to have her taking care of stuff for us. She was extremely generous to welcome us into her home several evenings, and dinners with the Brugerolle family were some of the highlights of the trip. It was great to have Sylvie there because she understands the mysteries of French bureaucracy and could be our link to the university.”

“Sylvie was more helpful in certain areas than in others. I really like the fact that we spent so much time at her house first semester and got to meet her family. It helped to get to know her as a person, and not just the Site Director.”

“She really goes out of her way to keep all our lives organized here, and if ever anyone needs anything she gets right on it with enthusiasm. I really am glad I am in Poitiers - Sylvie has always been there for me and I thank her.”

Campus Contact

Downloads

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• This is Something Else
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