Angers is located in the Loire Valley about an hour and a half by TGV southwest of Paris. Students may participate in a semester or year-long CIDEF program at the Universite Catholique de l'Ouest. Most of the courses taken while in Angers transfer back toward required French major or minor courses at ISU.
For more information about Angers and how much it will cost go to the ISU International Studies link.
Coming soon...
Dr. Jim Reid
Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Campus Box 4300
Normal, IL
61790-4300
I studied in Angers, France, a city about 2 hours southwest of Paris. I attended the Centre International d'Etudes Francaises at the Universite Catholique de l'Ouest.
The first day was very intimidating, fearing I wouldn't fit in or end up hating every minute. However, once the jet lag wore off and I was meeting new people at school, there were no more fears. It took about a week to get familiar with the city and find hang outs, restaurants, and shopping when I was not in classes. Walking around the city with new friends made me very comfortable. Every five steps I found a chocolatier, a boulangerie or a cafe. I started recognizing other students in town and began sitting at sidewalk cafes for hours, just laughing, talking, and people watching. Once I got into a sync with my classes and host family's routines, it felt like home.
The September language intensive was very beneficial and helped me get comfortable with the program and Angers. With fewer international students, there were more opportunities to meet with the French graduate assistants and begin redeveloping my accent and comprehension skills. Throughout the semester there are weekly excursions, but during the intensive they occur weekly so in a short period of time I was able to acclimate and see a bit of France on guided tours.
The idea of the placement test was intimidating at first, but the directors assure you that the results of the exam are only to help them place you into an appropriate leve. The exam has listening and reading comprehension, with a few grammar sections. Every question was multiple choice.
If you arrive for the September intensive, you are not required to retake the placement test for the regular semester, your professor for the intensive will place you in your next level.
The classes were very informative, non-threatening, and low stress. The professors genuinely want you to do your absolute best. Probably the greatest part of CIDEF is that the professor cannot simply switch back into English if the students do not understand because not everyone in the class is a native English speaker. I had to make mistakes in French and hear the explanation in French, which expanded my vocabulary and helped me think in French.
I met some of the nicest and most tolerant people while I was in Angers. I learned about student life from all around the world. Many of us could only converse in French, so there was an occasional struggle, but we all helped each other the best we could. We discussed international politics and conflict and took this opportunity not to point out our differences but to gain understanding and lower the walls between different cultures.
I lived with a woman and her 19 year old in their apartment a few blocks from school. Madame set up accommodations that were clean, comfortable, and safe. We enjoyed long talks over dinner sharing ideas on politics, entertainment, cooking, and Eva Longoria (my host brother was a bit obsessed). While many students describe a working relationship with their host families, I really felt like I was a member of the family.
Madame was the most amazing cook! The dinners I had at home were always traditional French cuisine and had a story attached to them. Madame had a lot of Mediterranean influences in her cooking making our dinners flavorful and memorable.
The food in Angers, and all over France, was to die for. Forget dieting, just indulge!
I was fortunate to live close to school; it was only about a ten minute walk.
Aside from trips to Paris and the CIDEF excursions, I traveled to Germany, Switzerland, and Bordeaux.
Traveling around Europe was surprisingly easy. You can plan a trip online and order train tickets or discounted flights. With the 12/25 student discount card, tickets can be as much as 50% off (available at any train station).
II always felt safe. I did my best to be streetwise and blend it and it worked for me.
As much as I have enjoyed studying at ISU, it is easy to get caught in a rut. Having the opportunity to leave my comfort zone for a few months, get college credit, and try to live in a foreign country taught me a lot about myself and made the world feel smaller.
I have the home I came from, the home I have made here in Normal, and now another home in Angers, visited now through pictures, memories, and the hopes of returning again!
