We were 30 students coming mostly from Oregon and Missouri in this program. We were like a family. We did many things together from playing Frisbee in the park, a sport not so practiced in France, to going to pubs. We all had different classes, but we always found the time to meet and chat at a caf . The best part is that, after a while, we all managed to make many French and other nationalities friends, which opened a new world for us.
Many students are scared of the language barrier.
It is true that it takes time to learn a language so it is impossible to be fluent once you get there. In my opinion, a year long study-abroad program is the best way to learn the language well. The confidence in myself and fluency started after the winter break. If, at the beginning, I was afraid to speak French, there was a moment when I felt that I could really speak the language. Now, I don t really remember all the small stuff.