268 reviews
4.09 / 5 based on 268 reviews
Useful |
0
nbatchelor
Overall
I wish I had known...
Characteristics of individual Parisian neighborhoods; the university administrative procedures; the French bureaucratic procedures (ie: banking, renting an apartment)
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
The university integrates foreign students into regular courses, which allows students to interact and study with native students and to receive the true foreign study experience. The work is challenging and focused, providing a profound education.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
It is beneficial to become totally immersed in the culture. Reading, speaking, listening to music, doing EVERYTHING according to the native language/culture expedites acclimation. Even when meeting students of your own language, it is difficult, but very worthwhile to continue to communicate in the language of the host country.
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4
kepenate
Overall
I wish I had known...
I wish that I knew how much the entire experience was going to cost - I had the money to spend it was just a bit of a shock - that's all.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
My recommendation to the Sorbonne is to improve the services it provides to it's international students. Those of us in the program I took paid for one semester what 12 people in the regular program pay for a year! That's why I find it ridiculous that we can't even access the Sorbonne library - it's insane!
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
GO! There are downfalls but the good definitely outweighs the bad. You'll have a fantastic time, your French will improve enormously, and you'll meet people from all over the world. And when you're sitting in a cafe overlooking the Seine have another glass of wine for me! ;o)
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1
nightsfan
Academic
Course recommendations
Don't do the comparative lit course in the French faculty: it's rubbish. Take the English faculty's Analyse de texte module, which is great. Litt$BqS(Bature g$BqOqS(Bale (aka Intertextualit$B!&(B is a dreadfully boring module.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
Teachers must talk more to pupils, especially in the French dept; the English- country educated staff are better teachers, as they know the 'Anglo Saxon' method (i.e., where you discuss, rather than lecture).
Lecturers really should abandon the ridiculous (and arbitrary) demand that all presentations be tripartite - one teacher so much as admitted that structure was more important than content.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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1
kepenate
Academic
Course recommendations
I studied in the Language and Civilizations program at the Sorbonne; because I did the autumn semester I didn't get much of a course choice.
I will say that the courses for the most part were very good. The civilization lectures could have been better though - particularly the Lit. one which was just horrible! BUT the Versailles one - that was magnificent - absolutely magnificent! The Prof. was incredible!!
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
The dictations you do in language class are atrocious and be warned you'll do horribly on them. Good news is they're excellent prep for the final which will seem easy by the time you're done.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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0
Judith G
Overall
I wish I had known...
No.
Only for those not yet familiar with the French language: learn French as much as you can before going there!!!
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In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
If administrative problems arise: stay cool and insist on the problems to be solved, if necessart ask for the responsible.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
From Germany, probably the cheapest way for travelling is by bus.
Eurolines is pretty common, but Gulliver's Reisen offers busses with sleeper seats which is much more comfortable.
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0
blairflores
Overall
I wish I had known...
That there would be little to no interaction with French university students at the Cours de Civilization Francaise at La Sorbonne.
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In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
The Cours de Civilization offers a great foundation of French grammar and gave me insight into French literature in a very positive way. I would approach the class with an open mind and a plan to do the homework and keep up with the class so you are sure to pass the final exam and receive course credit!
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
I found traveling outside of Paris during the weekends to be very easy and fun. As a student, you can get a 12/25 Carte and travel at discount rates all around France on the TGV. For the longer breaks (3-4 days) you can also get to Spain and Italy fairly easily by train.
As far as la vie Parisienne, I would advise anyone that lives there to soak up all the culture, music, art, and nightlife that the city has to offer. There is no way that one could ever be bored in such an exciting city, there is almost too much to do!
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