Why did you decide to study abroad with IES?
Sam: I knew from high school that I wanted to study abroad in France. One thing I decided early on was that I did not want to study in Paris. I thought that a smaller city would give me a better experience in terms of culture and a better language emersion. The representative at our study abroad fair got me interested in IES Nantes, and many of my friends had studied abroad with IES and enjoyed it, so I chose to do the program.
What made this study abroad experience unique and special?
Sam: One of the things that made this experience unique for me was that it was my first time leaving the country. I was thrown into a culture that, despite also being first-world, was completely different from my own and which I had to figure out. I got to travel, both with my program and casually with friends, and experience things I'd only read about in magazines, such as walking barefoot along the sandy beaches of Normandy, or wandering through the narrow markets of Camden Town. Another unique aspect of IES Nantes was my teaching internship where I worked in a primary school for 4 hours a week. I got to see the French school system from the inside and became close with some of the teachers there. Plus, there is no better way to improve French comprehension than trying to communicate with a five-year-old!
How has this experience impacted your future?
Sam: My experience in Nantes has definitely made me more confident and capable as a person, as well as making me aware of cultures and customs outside of my own. I met some great friends and had a host family I will remain in contact with for the rest of my life. I loved France so much that I decided I wanted to return and came back as a language assistant. Not only did it improve my French and teach me about myself, but it sparked my desire to travel and apply for other opportunities abroad such as the Peace Corps and Fulbright programs. There is no doubt in my mind that this experience in France made me the curious and inspired person I am today.