Biography
Name: Madison Kennedy, Class of 2020
Email: Madisongkennedy16@gmail.com
Program: EDUCO Paris, France, Spring 2019
Fields of Study: Psychology, Spanish and French
How did studying abroad affect your academic and/or professional career?
Studying abroad in Paris through the EDUCO program allowed me to take a semester to focus solely on the French language as well as the culture as I took classes including the History of Classic French Cinema and History of French Photography, which I wouldn't usually have the chance to take as a Psychology major. Therefore, not only did I improve my French language skills, I also had the opportunity to expand the type of classes I take into other subjects when I studied abroad.
How did you explore your hobbies, interests, and passions abroad?
Traveling has always been a huge passion for me as I love to learn about new cultures and experience the history and monuments that I may have only read about in the past. Being abroad allowed me to explore the tourist side in me as I explored Paris as well as other cities around Europe, but what was even more exciting was that I became less of a tourist in Paris as time went on. By the time my family visited in April, I knew my way around the metro, the many amazing museums, and the city itself, so it was an amazing feeling getting to share that with them.
Why would you recommend your respective abroad program or location?
I would recommend both Paris and EDUCO because you will never run out of things to do in Paris, and EDUCO is a great resource throughout your time there. Throughout the semester, EDUCO plans so many events for the students such as macaron making classes, wine tastings, ballet and theater performances, and even weekend trips to name a few, so you get the chance to experience a lot of Paris and France that you wouldn't get to if you were just visiting. Additionally, going abroad can be scary, but the team at EDUCO is a lot like the amazing advisors that we have at Tulane and they will help you through every step of your time there. You truly will never have a boring day in Paris as you explore the city, learn the culture and language, and learn more about yourself!
What should students consider when applying and preparing for their time abroad?
For a program like EDUCO, students should be prepared for immersion in the French language and culture. If you do a homestay, which I highly recommend, you will have to speak French with your family all the time and additionally all of the classes you take are in French. If you don't feel like your French is strong enough, don't let that discourage you. I was so nervous at the beginning because my French wasn't that great, but it's a learning experience and everyone is there to help you improve, which you definitely will!
Share a story about a time you experienced cultural immersion.
The biggest cultural immersion for me was living with a host family as I interacted with them in French everyday. We ate dinners together and I truly grew to love them so much. However, an unexpected moment of cultural immersion was when I visited Brussels during one of the first few weeks I was abroad. Our AirBnB host was busy, so she sent her mom to let us into the apartment and I went alone as my friends finished up lunch. The mom did not speak a word of English, so we did the whole tour in French and I asked her questions in French. Although at this point I had been with a host family and taking classes in French, I hadn't expected to use my French as much on this trip, so it was a surprise, but one that I really ended up loving! Studying abroad is full of surprises, but you will grow from each surprise along the way!
