<p>I'm a French/Theatre double major. I'm currently a sophomore and I'm planning on spending my junior year in France (fall and spring semesters).</p>
<p>The question is... Where should I go? I originally was planning on spending the year in Alsace. My school has a direct exchange there. However, when I met with my French advisor she explained to me that they are starting a new direct exchange in Arras (in Pas-de-Calais), which is only a 45 minute train ride outside of Paris. This school actually has a theatre program, so she said I would be the perfect candidate for it.</p>
<p>The other place I'm considering is Paris. I really would love to go to Paris, but it's extremely expensive and I've heard that if you go to Paris you're much less likely to improve your French. The school that I'd go to would be Sciences-Po.</p>
<p>So... For those of you who studied abroad in France... Did you go to Paris or somewhere else? If you went to Paris, were you still able to really improve your French and immerse yourself in the culture?</p>
<p>Also, has anybody spent a year in two different places? First semester at place X and second at place Y? I'm considering doing that.</p>
<p>I spent my junior year spring semester in Paris (Sorbonne program via SUNY Oswego) and had a great experience. I felt it was a better experience than spending it in the rural areas because you are exposed to a variety of people and even dialects. Yes, there are many sections of Paris where you can get by using English and you won’t need to immerse yourself as much, but there are so many social groups in Paris where you will have the opportunity to be completely immersed…plus you just can NOT beat the fact that Paris has the best museums, culture and architecture within walking distance. When I was there, I lived in a girls dorm which housed international students, but everything was in French- from the laundry room to cafeteria, etc. I was a French major and within 3 months, I learned more French living in that dorm and commuting around the city than I ever did sitting in 8 years of French in my AP French class in High school or college…there is just no comparison!!</p>
<p>While Paris is more expensive there are a lot of ways to defray costs…I know some friends would share flats in the suburbs, and would find cheaper stores to shop at, eat out, etc. museums are free for students with an ID card, and reduced price admission for everyone on certain days. A student ID card can get you discounts at many places…I managed to still go out, take day trips to London (the train ride is only 3 hrs) and eat at modestly priced restaurants on a very cheap budget (I was on scholarship and my parents only gave me a small allowance each month) so trust me, many of the students in our program were creative in maximizing our money !! </p>
<p>Paris is so worth it though…you only live once!</p>
<p>I vote for doing a semester in Arras and one in Paris. Why not have the best of both worlds. Since most students probably just do a semester and not a full year abroad, the chances of your needing to make new friends each time is probably the same whether or not you stay in one place. </p>
<p>This way, you can continue with your theater work and experience life in a smaller town, and then spend a semester taking advantage of all that Paris has to offer! And, I would recommend starting out in Arras and then doing the second semester in Paris if you opt to do both.</p>
<p>I’m going to Angers next year. It’s about 90 miles west of Paris in the Loire Valley region, and it’s famous for its chateau and culture. I’ve been told by my professors that you pick up a very neutral accent in Angers and the places nearby, so if you’re looking for a neutral, plain French accent, I’d say to stay away from Paris, the extreme north, and the extreme south. </p>
<p>But if that one has a theatre program too, go for it. The university in Angers will only give me French credits for my French major. Double-dipping is good!!</p>
<p>Oh, and also, I’d recommend living with a French family if you can. That’s the only way my particular program does it, and my friends that have gone said that’s where they learned the most French. When you go home from school, you’re not leaving French on the front steps: you’re engrossing yourself even more in it. You LIVE in it, and even when you’re just relaxing at home, you’re learning it. </p>
<p>Our other program had the option for living in dorms, but I’ve been told that it just doesn’t compare. If you grow close enough with your French family, they can take you places with them and really help you adopt yourself into the culture. Also, even if you just need help on homework or on how to do something in the city, you can have someone help you adapt and guide you along.</p>
<p>That’s honestly the part of the trip I’m looking forward to the most!!</p>
<p>AUGirl we meet again! My Retail Management/Fashion Merchandising daughter, also at U of SC is looking at study abroad opportunities for Spr or Summer of '14. Paris is a location she’s considering. I’m educating myself on study abroad opportunities, experiences, and ‘sponsors’, like AIU. I don’t have much to offer you, but I agree if you can do a whole year it would be great to have the best of both worlds; Paris and Arras. Good luck!</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Arras was only available in the spring and the Alsace exchange is being canceled after this current semester.</p>
<p>Alas, I’ve chosen to go to Paris for the year and study at Sciences Po! I hope it’ll be great. I’ve already talked to a couple of other girls about living together, so hopefully we can keep our living costs down.</p>
<p>With that being said, I’m not going through a program, so a host family isn’t much of an option. I’ve looked into it and it’ll be way out of my budget to live with a Parisian host family. In addition, it wasn’t really something that I wanted to do. Maybe in the future!</p>
<p>Sciences Po is far greater than Arras. They are basically nothing to do in Arras, trust me you would not live there. Sciences Po is one of the flagship of the France’s culture. Located in the heart of Paris (Quartier Latin) it is a place where you will met a lot of smart people. </p>
<p>@harvestmoon : This is the wrongest thing I ever read on CC. The Parisian “accent” is just the way normal people speak french. In fact, this is not even an accept rather than a norm. Angers is boring like hell.</p>