CEA CAPA Education Abroad Reviews

I went to Aix 7 years ago for a year long study abroad. It was the best experience of my life. I loved the support there. The weekend and day trips were so much fun, and there were also plenty of classes, wine tasting, chocolate tasting etc to choose to do as well. The school program was great and I learned more French with in a month in Aix then I did with 5 years of French language in the U.S. If you're thinking about going to France choose Aix!

I went to Aix in the Spring of 2015 and loved it so much! The staff was very helpful and the school I went to was a great place to learn while away from my home university. The housing was incredible! I was in an apartment with another person from CEA. One of the best parts about this program was the comradery formed between the other CEA Aix students and myself. I've definitely found friends for life! The location could not be more perfect. I was in Aix in January and the lowest it got was 32 degrees at night, never snowed, and hardly rained. The sun was shining and it was warm almost the whole time, something very different from the winters and springs in the Northeast.

CEA was the best choice for my study abroad experience. The onsite staff was such a big reason why I chose the program. They (Kristin and Sylvia) helped with any and all of our questions and took us on trips all around the Riviera so that we got to really experience and see the area. Waking up each morning and seeing the Mediterranean Sea out my window was something so special and surreal. Antibes is an incredible city to live in and CEA was so incredibly helpful in making sure of that.

Oh Prague, after coming back to the states all I could talk about was this beautiful city. Prague is all the fast paced excitement of a city, but yet small and cute. Studying in Prague with CEA was one of the best experiences of my life. The onsite staff at CEA were very friendly, professional, and well equipped to help the students. Whether helping them with housing concerns, academically, health issues, safety (Paris attacks) or even just tips about the city. CEA not only helps assist you but also makes sure you are having a good time by taking you on all sorts of excursions such a 3-day trip to Krakow Poland. Oh and I almost forgot, CEA also provides you with an open card which gives you complete access to trams, buses, and the metro for free. This also includes the bus to the airport which was very useful when traveling around Europe!

Prague itself is a wonderful city to study abroad with an abundance of activities for students. Prague has beautiful architecture such as the Charles Bridge, the astronomical clock in old town square, and even a few castles. Prague doesn't use the euro which also means it’s cheaper for students, especially when it comes to yummy food! Prague also has one of the best night life scenes in the world, the city is filled with unique restaurants and bars.

I would recommend Prague to everyone as a location to study abroad. When I was abroad I went to many cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Copenhagen, and none of them came close to being as special as Prague. Now that I am back in the states, all I can think about is when will I be going back to Prague! It's a risk going to study abroad in Prague in the sense that you will never want to leave and the city will steal a piece of your heart.
Go Study abroad in Prague! Best experience of my life!

-Ethan Spadino

I think it would be hard to go to Aix and not like it, but Vivienne, Nancy, and the CEA program helped me love every day of my time in France. I'm sure that they've had so many students come through their program over the years, but they did an incredible job of establishing a personal connection with every student, and their amazing kindness and support went a long way towards really helping me feel at home in Aix. Not only were they super helpful with ideas, details, and logistics for great adventures, but they were totally committed to doing their best to help during tougher times. I had my wallet stolen, and without their support I would have had a really tough time getting everything figured out. Instead, Vivienne spent much of her Sunday working to help me out, and I was quickly back on my feet. I would use kind and committed to sum Vivienne and Nancy up in two words, and they become just as much of a major part of my fondness for France as croissants and rosé.

I did not think my study abroad experience would be better then the day dreams I had before I left, until I was abroad with CEA. Aix-en-Provence was a amazing and magical place, but what really made me fall in love was the staff at CEA. They were the best people to have by my side while learning a new culture. From the flower markets to the parks Aix is by far my favorite place in the world. I would never have thought there would have been people as caring and wonderful as Viv and Nancy. They are truly incredible people, and I am lucky to have had them by my side. Aix has everything at your finger tips from small boutiques to fantastic hikes. I would never trade my experience in Aix or with CEA for anything in the world.

Spending 5 summer weeks in Aix changed my perspective on life and world travel. The beautiful, ancient buildings of this quaint, but modern, small city were a joy to take in and experience. The open air fruit and vegetable markets were great for shopping, not to mention vibrant and fun to explore. The ancient cathedrals and many museums and art and music venues all within walking distance from my student apartment. The excursions on the weekends with the eccentric, "George", exploring the beautiful sights of Provence, I will never forget. And swimming in the neon blue Mediterranean Sea for the first time was a religious experience! I highly recommend Aix if you want to experience and learn more about French culture, cuisine, art, nature, people, cafes and ancient architecture. Don't forget to bring your brightest smile ~ Bon Voyage!!

Aix en Provence felt like home. It is a true French experience, and it's the experience of a lifetime. The city is perfect for students, with easy access to travel, so much to do, and so much to see. I wouldn't trade one single moment of my Aix-perience. The town is safe & welcoming to American students. And I was immersed in French culture (& food!) I encourage anyone who is looking for an authentic French experience, away from the big city to pursue this program. You will not regret it. And you will learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible. Aix is absolutely amazing.

I absolutely loved my time in Aix. I can't express how much I appreciated the smallness of the town and program. Studying abroad in Aix in the Fall allowed me to have a great small group of 20 or so people to get together with and always have a buddy to travel with! It's so easy to navigate and travel from. I had the time of my life traveling around Europe and Aix really felt like I was coming back home after a weekend trip. Going out at night is easy because of the cheap wine and the city is so walk-able. I recommend here over Paris for a good cultural immersion and wonderful sunny weather! I miss the fresh produce from the farmers markets every morning, the fresh lavender shops, and the always helpful advisers! GO TO AIX!!

Choosing to study abroad was the best choice I have ever made, and deciding to go to Aix was the second! Aix-en-Provence was the perfect city to be completely immersed culturally and improve my french language skills. Our on site staff were so helpful, always there to make sure we were safe and having fun. I learned so much outside of the classroom and truly made international friendships! I also got really close with my study abroad group because I went in the fall (groups are a little bit smaller in the fall than in the spring). From sipping wine on the Cours Mirabeau to impromptu weekend trips to Barcelona, studying abroad was absolutely incredible. I'd go back today if I could!