Study Abroad - Angers
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.
Credit in Angers
Students earn 15 hours of credit while in Angers. Up to 9 of those hours can go toward French major requirements and 6 or more can go toward electives toward the major and toward graduation.
Contact Dr. Reid to discuss which courses you will take while in Angers.
Questions you have before you leave
How do students apply for the Visa?
Coming soon...
When do students find out about their host family placement?
This information (for the fall semester study abroad) comes around the 1st of August. Many students were unclear whether they could purchase this plane ticket beforehand, which you can.
Is it difficult to travel from Paris to Angers with luggage for 4 months? Would it be easier to ship the suitcases?
Although it is difficult to board and get off the train with so much luggage, it is much more reliable than shipping. It helps to request a seat on the bootom floor of the train. There is a train station right in Charles de Gaulle airport where you can take the train to Montparnasse.
When booking the train tickets, how long should students leave between when the plane lands and when the train leaves?
Normally trains leave every hour, but once you land at Charles de Gaulle it takes a few hours to get through customs, pick up your luggage and get to the train station. Tickets are available for purchase at the train station in the CDG airport.
How should students contact their host families?
Many family will give their phone number and address, and some give their email address. Buying an international phone card or calling via Skype is the easiest way. It is important to notify the family in advance when you will arrive so they can plan to meet you at the train station in Angers or make other arrangements.
Many students were confused about the meal plan and how to pay for food once they were in Angers.
In September, the host family has already been paid for the meals students take at home, breakfast, and dinner. Lunch is provided at school the first month. After September, ISU students receive a check each month from the secretary and they decide with their host family which meals they will take together and how much if costs. Lunch is on your own. Sutdents from different schools all have different systems of paying.
When do classes start and how do students know where to go?
Students will receive information, maps, and schedules once they arrive in Angers from CIDEF and the host families. Classes usually begin the day after students can move in with hosts.
Contact Us
Dr. Jim Reid
Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Campus Box 4300
Normal, IL
61790-4300
Study Abroad Scholarship in French
Here are guidelines to the scholarship for study abroad in a French-speaking country.
Post Study Abroad Testimonial
Where did you study?
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.
What were your first days and weeks like?
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.
How was the month-long, Intensive language course (if this applies to you)?
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.
What was the placement exam like? Did you take it once before and once after the month-long language course (if this applies to you)?
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.
How were your semester classes and teachers?
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.
What were the other students like?
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.
How was your host family?
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.
How was the food?
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!
How was traveling to and from school?
I was fortunate to live close to school; it was only about a ten minute walk.
Did you travel?
Aside from trips to Paris and the CIDEF excursions, I traveled to Germany, Switzerland, and Bordeaux.
If so, how was it traveling around Europe?
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).
Did you feel safe?
II always felt safe. I did my best to be streetwise and blend it and it worked for me.
Now that you are back, how do you feel you are doing in your ISU language classes?
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.
What did you like about your study abroad? Please feel free to
elaborate.
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!