I had never been to France before my semester abroad. I chose Grenoble, France because I wanted to live in a city which was not so much touristic. I wanted to experience unknown culture, learn a new language, and live somewhere which I knew no one. AIFS provided me the opportunity to meet international students and keep in contact with them after my return home!
Studying in France enabled me to develop a close relationship with my host mom and also explore Europe. Every free weekend and break I had, I hopped on plane and train and went on a trip. I traveled to 13 countries and 36 cities during my time abroad. It was the most rewarding and unforgettable experience of my life.

I think AIFS was a great program to study abroad with! One of the best and most convenient things about the program was the fact that there was a flight package. This would include booking the flight ticket for you, picking you up from the airport, and dropping you off where you need to be.The program also included a two-week orientation in Cannes before you got to Paris which was beneficial in helping you make friends in the program. It was also a good way to freshen up your French.

Although, cheese and baguettes were two of my favorite parts of my semester in Paris, I loved the chance to study abroad and discover so much more about the city and French culture! My classes were interesting and thought-provoking, but not time-consuming or too challenging. My French language skills improved SO much while I was abroad! I lived with another American student and a Mexican student in a French woman's home, right across the river from the Louvre--SO lucky! I loved being able to hop on the metro for wherever I needed to go, it is the height of convenience! I also found the AIFS support staff SUPER helpful and caring! They really want to make sure everyone has the best possible experience, and they offer great excursions that I highly recommend! The American AIFS staff also are very useful for making sure all of your documentation, etc. are in order before you travel abroad. I have nothing bad to say about AIFS! Vive la France!

I participated in the 2-week intensive French Language program offered to AIFS students. I really enjoyed the program.

The classes were somewhat challenging at times, and those in the higher levels (like myself) were mixed with foreign students instead of just Americans - loved that!

The dorm we stayed in was very clean and was great to meet up with friends and plan trips. You could also meet in the campus cafe which was pretty cool too!

The location was AMAZING! You're right by the beach and not too far of a walk into the downtown area! Also you can take the train to lots of local cities like Grasse, St. Marguerite island, Antibes, Nice, Monaco and even Italy isn't very far! I took LOTS of day trips that way and did so cheaply!! It was such a great experience.

The cafeteria food was pretty good and always buffet style (with baguette of course!).

The teachers were helpful, friendly (for the French) but still professional. Very nice though.

There were 2 excursions offered for a small additional fee - worth it! The locations change each term based on prices and availability but we went to Aix-en-Provence for a day trip and it was very cool. They also sometimes offer Marseille.

I would definitely recommend this program and would have loved to have stayed longer.

The one down side would be it is a smaller town...therefore there's not a whole lot of things to do in January but the restaurants, beach, friendships and I'm sure the nightlife in the warmer seasons make up for it!

AIFS Paris is a great program that I would highly recommend. The Paris staff was excellent and made sure everything ran smoothly. AIFS does an excellent job with host family placements as well. ILCF was great. The teachers were very helpful, and by the end of the semester, I could tell I had made a lot of progress.

If you want an authentic French experience, come to Grenoble. Grenoble is absolutely breathtaking. The mountains are great for hiking or skiing. It's amazing to go running along the river. If you are an active person, you will fall in love with Grenoble's outdoor activities and more. Even if you aren't very active, you will be charmed by Grenoble's architecture, friendly atmosphere, and the weekend markets. I learned far more than I ever expected in coming here. I went from not being able to speak French hardly at all to having conversations about politics, home improvement, and cultural differences. You will get out what you put in to it. That is the most important thing to remember when you come here or if you go anywhere in general to study abroad. If I could choose where to go for another semester, I would probably still pick Grenoble. I've met so many great international students here. We will be friends for a lifetime. Come to Grenoble, and you won't regret it.

An amazing experience. Living on the beach, staying at a small school with students from all over the world, and taking rigorous but fun academic courses. I became very close with many of the people in my AIFs group- they are my best friends to this day. Cannes is a fantastic and charming town, and working at the Film Festival was an unforgettable experience. the support staff from AIFS could not be more helpful. I would recommend absolutely anyone to participate in this program- I wish I could do it all over again!

My study abroad semester in Grenoble, France was a once in a lifetime experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. Like many of the students who choose this program, I wanted a truly authentic French experience that I felt I wouldn't find studying in Paris. And an authentic experience is what I got. The city has a population of around 150,000 which I felt was a perfect size for me: not to small, but not to big. My favorite part of living in Grenoble is the fact that the city is surrounded by three different mountain ranges. Every direction that you turn your head in, you can see mountains (if there aren't any 300 year old buildings in the way!) With my study abroad program we were able to take part in several activities and excursions to different places around the city and within the region. These were some of my most favorite memories and things that I got to do while in France. These included snowshoeing in the Alps followed by a relaxing visit to a thermal spa, visiting several vineyards to do some wine tasting, and doing a high ropes course complete with zip line atop one of the mountains surrounding Grenoble. My favorite place that we visited was a monastery tucked away in the Chartreuse mountains (one of the ranges that borders Grenoble.) It was the most beautiful and peaceful place that I have ever been in my life. These experiences along with the day to day authentic experiences of riding trams, visiting cafés, and speaking French made my semester so full and complete. I truly left part of my heart in Grenoble and can't wait until the day that I can go find it again.