To the potential Rennes program participant

In fall 2023, I did a semester in Rennes with CIEE. It was an incredible experience for a multitude of reasons. To start, at first taking classes all in French felt daunting to me. CIEE made sure I was placed at a level that was appropriate, where I did not feel like I struggling, but where I could still grow in my French proficiency. At CIREFE, where you take all of your classes, the professors are understanding and want to see all students succeed. All of my classmates at CIREFE were extremely kind and we all cared about supporting one another. It did not feel like we were in competition with each other, but rather a community that wanted everyone to be successful. Another reason I highly recommend this program is the excursions. Each excursion was a learning opportunity and a chance to get to know the other program participants better. From these excursions I learned a lot. For example, I learned a lot about Saint Malo during our excursion there and seeing the beauty of it firsthand is an experience I will not be able to replicate. Additionally, another reason I highly recommend the program is the program staff. Daniel and Valentina are empathetic, supportive, and helpful. Anytime I or another program participant had a question or concern Daniel and Valentina were responsive and extremely helpful. Another reason I highly recommend this program is that it got me out of my comfort zone. I tend to be a very shy person and for me speaking French to others felt daunting at times because I was nervous to make mistakes. This program got me out of my comfort zone as I spoke French in all of my courses but also with my home stay and with other program participants. Hearing the language around me also taught me a lot. I still felt nervous speaking French, but it felt way less daunting. I also realized that you will make mistakes when speaking another language and people do not judge you for making those mistakes, but rather kindly correct you. Lastly, I highly recommend this program because in my opinion Rennes is the perfect sized city with a multitude of things to do. In my opinion, Rennes is the perfect size because there are many shops, restaurants, and parks to go to, but it never felt like too many people. During my time in the program, I ate at so many incredible restaurants and cafes. I also went to so many shops that are extremely easy to get to by the metro or bus. The city’s transport system is not hard to navigate. In conclusion, I highly recommend this program and that it is an amazing program for those who want to step out of their comfort zone.