IES Abroad French Studies Program in Paris
Have you dreamed of studying French abroad in Paris? We encourage you to consider the IES Abroad French Studies in Paris. Founded in 1962, the IES Abroad French Studies program in Paris combines a rigorous academic program with a French langue immersion program. Classes offered exclusively in French include Art, Cinema, Francophone History and more.
The IES Abroad French Studies program includes a homestay with a local Parisian family and field trips to destinations such as Normandy, Versailles and Chantilly. While studying abroad in Paris, students will have opportunities to gain work experience through internships at local business, schools and NGOs. Why wait? Apply to the IES Abroad French Studies program in Paris today!
Reviews
90%Overall
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90%Overall
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My host family (just a host mom and a cat) were the best possible pairing I ever could have imagined. We got along extremely well and she made me incredible dinners (in 4 months abroad, she only repeated 2 plates...and those were on my last two nights because I had specially requested them). I was spoiled...The IES program was also great because it had really great professors that were very accessible and wanted the american students to succeed. There was a good selection of classes as well as the option to take classes at a local french university (which I partook in). I made a lot of friends, both inside and outside of IES programs/classes. I also had the opportunity to travel a lot, which was great!
Critical Feedback:
Paris is a very expensive city.
90%Overall
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I chose to do IES because my school's program in France does not include a homestay or the opportunity to take classes at a French institution. My school told me I might not even get credit for the classes I took with IES but I chose to do it anyway, and I am very glad I did (I did credit actually).
If you choose (you can also live in an apartment with other Americans) you can be placed in an apartment in Paris with a family, which is the main reason I wanted to do IES. I had a lovely family in a really great location and the mom was a fantastic cook. I probably wouldn't want to stay with a family for more than a semester though- by the end I wanted to feel more independent in my home and I felt a little bit like a stranger still, but I did really love the home stay. I didn't totally click with the other IES students, but I made French friends through my host mom's son, which was really fantastic because it really helped my French (and they were great people).
I absolutely loved the IES classes I took- 18th and 19th century art history (with trips to the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay) 20th century French literature, and translation (that was a bit difficult). I took two classes at the Sorbonne- I almost wish I had only taken one because the classes were very difficult to follow and had a lot of assignments. I did perfectly fine in them though so it's definitely doable. I also learned a lot in those classes and made a couple of French friends- also great.
I had a lot of time to wander around Paris by myself- you can really create your own experience with IES and feel independent, which I find very important. A lot of people traveled during the weekends - I visited a cousin in Florence one weekend but other than that I stayed in Paris.
The IES staff were always extremely supportive and nice and I really enjoyed all the programs they had in Paris - a few hangouts with French people, trips to the Opera and Ballet, and a trip to a chocolate competition thing - that was amazing. The superb quality of the staff was really one of the best parts about my experience.
Critical Feedback:
I think they could have done a better job with providing trips outside of Paris - we had to go to Normandy in the beginning as a sort of ice breaker, which I kind of hated, and then you could choose two other trips. I went to Reims, which was kind of cool but not too exciting, and Champagne, which was nice also but not an overnight trip or anything. I think my school's program provides trips almost every weekend, and this felt like very little. However we of course had the amazing Paris to explore for three months, so I wasn't that upset about it.
100%Overall
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The IES Paris program and its staff understand what it is like to be an American college student living in Paris. While many of the courses are rigorous, the staff and professors never lose sight of the fact that you are studying abroad. Living in Paris is full of challenges outside of the classroom, whether it's conquering the metro system or simply mastering your french at the dinner table. The academic curriculum, in my opinion, provides the perfect level of difficulty while still giving you the opportunity to deal with these other challenges. You will most definitely find yourself well prepared academically coming in, even if your french is not superb. Living in a homestay was the most rewarding aspect of this program. The families IES has selected are well acclimated to the foreign student experience, and are quite empathetic in helping you adapt to a new lifestyle. Overall, this is an extremely challenging semester abroad but the reward is far greater than you could expect coming in.
Critical Feedback:
The commute to school was often difficult and time consuming. Living closer to the IES Center would have made it easier, but I doubt I would have seen as much of the city as I did if I had lived closer.
90%Overall
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IES offers its students a French experience while maintaining the academic excellence of the US. The program offers many excursions to its students to explore the city as well intercultural exchanges with other French students. Homestays and apartments are offered, although the homestays are usually better located.
Critical Feedback:
The location of the housing wasn't ideal.
100%Overall
Rating
Honestly, I was so anxious about studying abroad before I left the US. It seemed like such a huge undertaking, and I didn't exactly know what to expect. However, IES did a fantastic job of helping us students acclimate to our new homes. The staff is really friendly, and they are more than willing to answer any questions you have. They organized a lot of outings that help you get exposure to Parisian culture, and one thing that I really appreciated is that they never made me feel like a tourist. They really want you to feel like a resident, which I think made the whole experience so much more meaningful.
If you want to get the most out of the program, I would HIGHLY recommend setting up a homestay arrangement. I loved my host family; they were so welcoming and gracious, not to mention adorable and awesome. They offered me a lot of classic and unconventional French foods, provided suggestions on things to do in the city, and helped me develop my language skills in a new way. They were amazing, and I class myself as lucky that I got to spend four months with them.
The last thing you want to do while studying abroad is actually study! But with IES you are required to take five classes each term, no matter how much you want to deny it. The classes aren't too terribly difficult. My experience is that you get out of it what you put into it; if you don't want to learn about the subjects, you probably won't learn anything, but if you actually do care about your grades (which I did, because I'm a goody-goody), you can get a lot out of them. Classes are all in French, which adds a whole new level of difficulty to the program.
If you're interested in taking a class at a real French university (such as the Sorbonne or the Institute Catholique de Paris), I'm going to warn you right now: my ICP class was the HARDEST class I've ever taken in my life, but after I was finished with it, there was a huge feeling of accomplishment. I would advise that you only take an exterior class if you're up for the challenge.
Ultimately, I appreciate the experience of studying abroad more than I can put into words. It's not just a matter of developing your language or visiting museums; it's about testing yourself, pushing yourself to master new challenges, and learning more about yourself both as an American and as a world traveler. If you're willing to give up some of your old habits in favor of new, exciting exploits, then by all means, go for it.
Further Info
About IES Abroad
Their Roots: IES Abroad was co-founded by Paul Koutny, an Austrian student who had moved to the US on a Fulbright scholarship in 1950. While there, he envisioned a future built on a peace that grew from the lessons learned while studying abroad. He rallied 21 other friends and the crew hopped on the SS Volendam headed for a year of studies in Vienna. Feeling inspired by their own experience in Austria, IES Abroad alums Clarence and Alberta Giese immediately began helping send future groups of students abroad. Before they knew it, 60 years had passed, and IES Abroad remains a longstanding and exemplary study abroad option for students today.
Their Quest: "IES Abroad strives to provide premier study abroad programs for U.S. students that deliver the highest quality education while simultaneously promoting development of intercultural competence."
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When I was first looking at study abroad programs, I thought that I wanted to be in rural France, in a smaller town, because I did not think I would enjoy living in a city. IES Paris completely changed my mind about that. The staff and professors are welcoming and go above and beyond to help you adjust to life in Paris. There are so many great events scheduled to enable you to learn as much about the culture as possible, both mandatory and voluntary. I fell right into learning and participating in French in my classes because of the excellent week of preparation they gave us before class started.
The only stressful thing I experienced the entire semester was that my housemate and I made the decision to move out of our first host parent's house. This was not the fault of the program--the woman who we lived with had just hosted a student last semester and everything had worked out fine. It was just not a good fit for the two of us. Throughout the entire process of deciding to move out and finding a new host family, the staff at IES was so reassuring and supportive. It made everything so much easier, and my housemate and I ended up with an amazing family who we got very close with. Ultimately, it was the right decision, and IES Paris empowered us to make it. The program truly helped me find my independence and grow as a person, in this way in many others.
Critical Feedback:
I would recommend making blurbs for each host family and letting students rank them based on their preferences in addition to using the housing questionnaire that they asked students to fill out.