"Being surrounded by French every day—both inside and outside the classroom—accelerated my learning in ways that simply would not have been possible at home."
As a first-generation, low-income (FLI) student at Columbia School of General Studies, I simply would not have been able to participate in the Accelerated French program in Paris without the support of the Global Learning Scholarship (GLS). I am deeply grateful to the donors whose generosity made this opportunity possible. Studying abroad had been a long-standing goal of mine, and being able to immerse myself fully in the French language and culture was an experience I will always value.
I chose the Accelerated French program because I wanted to dedicate myself entirely to learning the language without balancing it alongside a full semester of other courses. The program at Reid Hall is intensive, fast-paced, and academically demanding, but that challenge is exactly what made it so rewarding. Being surrounded by French every day—both inside and outside the classroom—accelerated my learning in ways that simply would not have been possible at home.
One of the greatest values of the program was how much of my education took place beyond the classroom. I quickly discovered that some of my most meaningful learning came through everyday life in Paris. Living with a famille d’accueil (host family), for example, gave me the opportunity to experience daily life in a way that would never have been possible otherwise.
Likewise, I spent many afternoons walking around Rue Saint-Jacques and Place du Panthéon before studying late into the evening at the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève among students from neighboring universities. Together, these experiences helped me feel like a genuine participant in the city’s academic and cultural life. I would strongly encourage future students to find a library they enjoy and make it part of their daily routine. It provides an authentic opportunity to experience a side of Paris that many visiting students never see.
