So worth it...

The teachers at Alliance Francaise were absolutely amazing. They pushed forward with the curriculum to ensure we were learning all that was needed to pass the final exams, but they also encouraged us to stop and smell the flowers - literally. Professors never yelled at us for missing class or coming in late -- on the contrary, they asked us what we learned about French culture in the park that day, and applauded us for practicing our French in the cafe. They were happy to take a pause in class to talk about the demonstration (strike) outside, or to answer our questions about French holidays and the like. The professors were approachable, knowledgeable and obviously passionate about spreading the French language and culture. As for my classmates, the classroom was a true melting pot, and I made amazing friends -- from Mexico, Canada, Belize, Equatorial Guinea, South Korea, China, Indonesia, Switzerland, Germany, etc. My classmates and I would often explore Paris together, going out for drinks, to see movies, etc., and some of us even rented a car one weekend and drove to the beach in Normandy. Overall - the Alliance Francaise provided great teaching, wonderful support and a fabulous place for building friendships - I highly recommend the program!