Want to hear from a college student who did a Study + Internship abroad program in France? We recently caught up with AIFS Abroad participant Caleb from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, who spent his spring semester studying abroad in the film-famous city of Cannes.
Read on to learn more about Caleb’s experience with the AIFS Abroad Study + Internship Program in Cannes.
Choosing a Study Abroad Program Destination & Term
Deciding where to study abroad can be challenging for some students (our team can help with that!) because there are so many amazing places you can go with AIFS Abroad. Fortunately, no matter which destination you choose, you’re in for an experience of a lifetime. As a French major, Caleb’s choice to go to France was an easy one:
“Before I decided on a city, I knew I wanted to go to France because I am studying French, and I wanted to be immersed in the language to improve my language abilities. Cannes was a perfect fit. The AIFS program in Cannes [has] a combined study abroad and internship [option]. I was able to take French classes and intern at the Cannes Film Festival. I am a lover of film so this allowed me to participate in one of the biggest international film festivals and learn more about the European film industry from inside it. Cannes is also located on the Côte d’Azur (aka the French Riviera) which is about an hour away from Monaco and an hour and a half away from Italy. This made it easy to travel and explore other places. Cannes is located on the beach, which is perfect for me because I love the beach.”
As Caleb mentioned, he chose a Study + Internship abroad program. This unique option allows you to take classes and have the classic study abroad experience while you beef up your resume and gain hands-on professional experience—you really can’t go wrong. It’s a great option for those who can’t decide between study abroad and international internship programs or want a little bit of both.
Choosing a term is another important consideration. AIFS Abroad offers amazing programs in the spring and fall semesters in addition to the summer. Here’s why Caleb chose to study and intern abroad during the spring:
“[Going abroad during spring semester] allowed me to participate in the Cannes Film Festival which occurs in May every year. Coming in February was perfect as I arrived in the town when it was quiet and quaint before the tourist season started. I experienced some of the winter weather but it quickly got warmer and I was able to enjoy the warmth and sunshine of the Côte d’Azur and its beaches.”
Academics Abroad
One of the incredible benefits of study abroad programs is that they expose you to a different university experience. Caleb found it to be a big (but welcome) change:
“I attended the Campus International de Cannes. This experience was unique as it was a much smaller campus than I was used to. My program had about 25 students with AIFS, and there were other international students as well. It was a big change from my home university, which is much bigger. It felt nice because all the people in my program became our own little community.”
As Caleb explains, his classes were a great opportunity to apply his learning to the real world and meet new people:
“Classes here were small with about 15-20 students. They consisted of AIFS students as well as international students from places such as Peru, Mexico, Italy, and Switzerland.
I loved all of my classes because they were very hands-on. I loved the field trips the most. In my grammar class, we would go into town and practice speaking with locals. This helped me feel much more confident speaking French. In my theatre class, I got to go to a local university to do a performance with some of my classmates for a French graduate student’s thesis project.”
Internship Experience
Study + Internship abroad programs vary, but they all feature a combination of classes and part-time in-person internship experience. Caleb’s program included a short-term, two-week internship that gave him hands-on experience in the film industry, volunteering at the Cannes Film Festival. Here’s what his daily life during his internship looked like:
“I typically woke up and went to class in the morning and then went to my internship in the afternoon. I worked for a Belgian production company during the Cannes Film Festival as an office assistant. I completed an assortment of tasks around the office, welcomed clients, and spoke in either French or English to suit their needs… I would have lunch at the office as well, where I would talk with staff to learn more about the company and the European film industry.”
Wherever your internship program destination is, you’ll likely find that the professional culture is very different compared to the U.S. American work culture is known for its long hours and focus on productivity rather than quality of life, and European work culture tends to be more laid back! Here’s what Caleb had to say about his host company’s culture and interning in Cannes:
“The company culture was very different from that of the United States. While it was a professional environment, it was not as formal between employees and the management. In French, there are different words to use for ‘you.’ There is ‘vous’ and ‘tu.’ ‘Vous’ is more formal and ‘tu’ is not formal. I started using ‘vous’ [at my internship] because it was a professional environment; however, my boss told me to just use ‘tu’ and that I did not need to speak so formally. This was very interesting to me because I feel like that is not as common in workplaces in the United States.”
As he discovered, his internship wasn’t all work; it also came with opportunities to get to know the staff and enjoy some unique perks:
“My company had free lunches and provided me with the opportunity to sit in on business meetings. However, the best benefit was that we received free tickets to screenings during the Cannes Film Festival. I got to walk the red carpet and see a couple of premieres.”
Career Opportunities
One reason to choose an international internship or Study + Internship program is that it expands your career horizons, allowing you to bolster your resume, develop valuable career skills, build a professional network, and stand out to future employers. As Caleb explains:
“The company left future opportunities open if I ended up in Europe in the future. This helped me boost my resume and show future employers that I can work in different cultures and a different language. I made connections with a lot of people abroad. I have professional contacts with members at the company. I also still speak with my professors and Program Director.”
Making Friends Abroad
Whether you choose to study abroad with friends from home or set out on your own is totally up to you. While taking that first step can feel scary, it’s important to remember that you’ll be making new friends as soon as you arrive in your program destination, like Caleb did:
“Making friends is really easy in a program abroad because a lot of other students are arriving without knowing other people as well. You all have some sort of commonality for choosing to do the same [or a] similar program. I would just try talking to everyone and you will find someone you vibe with… I made friends [with people] from other countries and [Americans] across the United States who I still talk to.”
Language Learning
As a French Major, Caleb chose to go to France so that he could improve his French language skills. However, you are not required to be fluent in another language to study or intern abroad. While some courses require language proficiency, many programs do not require any second language knowledge at all. Ultimately, whether you learn a new language while studying or interning abroad is totally up to you!
Here’s what Caleb had to say about his French language program in Cannes:
“French is the primary language where I studied. You did not need to know the language before you started the program; however, you did have to take a French class while there. While most people speak English, it is much easier to know a little bit of French to do better. My French skills improved so much after being there. I was able to learn conversational French, which is not really taught in class. I learned a lot of slang and how French people actually speak. My best advice is just to try. You are only going to get out as much as you put in.”
Housing
All AIFS Abroad programs include various student housing options. For study abroad and Study + Internship programs, the options are usually a homestay, student residence/dorm, and a shared apartment. Caleb really lucked out with his room with a view of the Sea!
“I was in a dorm on campus, in a single room. I loved the view from my room looking out over the Mediterranean Sea. I also liked that I had a sink and mirror in my room. It was a smaller room but it worked because I did not have a ton of stuff. We did not have any air conditioning, but I got a fan, which helped.”
Why AIFS Abroad?
One of the many reasons so many students and interns choose AIFS Abroad is because all our program destinations have on-site support staff who are there to meet you as soon as you arrive. Our Program Directors are particularly helpful. They’re a great resource for learning more about your program destination, and you can always go to them if you have any questions or issues.
Hear Caleb explain why he chose AIFS Abroad:
“I wanted to make sure I had support while abroad, and AIFS has Program Directors that help you on-site with anything you need help with. I had an amazing Program Director, Aude, who helped me make the most of my time abroad. I also loved that AIFS has excursions included in the program. These trips took me to places I would not have gone alone. I got to make my perfume in Grasse, the world’s perfume capital. I got to kayak in the bright blue waters of the Gorges du Verdon. I had heard from students who went abroad with AIFS Abroad before, and they had great experiences. I can confidently say the same now.”
Final Thoughts & Advice
The experiences you gain while you’re abroad will remain with you forever. It’s a thrilling time that you’re sure to look back on fondly. For anyone who’s going abroad in the future, Caleb wanted to say the following:
“I hope that you have the best time abroad. This experience is going to be one that you will never forget. Enjoy your time and do the things you want to do. Focus on your studies but also make sure to enjoy the fact that you are in another country. Explore and live your life. Have fun!”
Are you a student who’s ready to take the leap and study and intern abroad like Caleb did in Cannes with AIFS Abroad? We’d love to help you start your journey!
Here at AIFS Abroad, we know a thing or two about helping college students study and intern abroad. All our programs come with many beneficial inclusions, which takes a lot of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to providing things like cultural and social activities, excursions, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and more, you’ll take comfort in knowing you’ll have support throughout your entire experience abroad.
