Language, Landmarks, and Lasting Impressions
Student reflection by Amy Jia (French target, C’27 W’27)
“You’re here in Paris at an era of time that will go down in the history of France.”
Since my arrival, I sensed the anticipation brimming in the city with the imminent 2024 Olympics and legislative elections. That statement stuck with me as I sat in the SciencesPo auditorium during my first day in Paris, listening to the opening remarks for my summer school programming. After the opening remarks, I hopped on an incredible boat tour of the River Seine with my new classmates. I cruised by the city’s most famous monuments and museums, snapping the occasional photo in between. This was just the beginning of an amazing four weeks I’d spend learning French with SciencesPo.
Several months beforehand, I came across the SciencesPo summer school program when reading about previous summer experiences on the Huntsman Program website. The opportunity for a month in the beautiful capital of France—the city of love and heart of fashion, gastronomy, and breathtaking architecture—didn’t need much convincing.
My four weeks in Paris were filled with intensive French classes and workshops and an immersion of the rich culture of Paris. Classes were loaded with discussions in French on topics ranging in complexity, from understanding French right and left-wing politics, to the best baguette in Paris. I was learning phonetic and grammatical nuances I’d never heard of before and picking up current French slang. Our French teachers would take us on a journey through Paris without leaving the classroom, as we discussed the characteristics of different districts, museums and heritage sites, and even modern gastronomy. Our discussions were enriched by Paris’ current events—the Olympics and the legislative elections. There were also program-hosted activities and trips after classes. I went on the weekend trip to Giverny and Claude Monet’s house, exploring a real-life painting in the gardens.
When I wasn’t in class or taking part in school events, I continued exploring Paris. I dined at the charming Cafe de Flore known for hosting famous artistic and literary figures, and wound through the dark and dank tunnels of the Catacombs of Paris. I got to visit the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and take nighttime photos at the Eiffel tower, where I was one of the last groups who had the chance to go up before access was limited due to the Olympics.
It would also be impossible not to mention the food scene. I tried the infamous escargot, and had some of the best pastries of my life from the oldest patisserie in Paris as recommended by
my French professors. I even got to try the largest croissant in Paris at Philippe Conticini. I’m immensely grateful for the lessons I’ve learned. My French abilities didn’t only improve as a result of intensive classes, but also in how I approached my language learning: improvement lies not just in knowledge of complex grammatical structures and an extensive vocabulary, but also in confidence and the ability to freely express without fear of making mistakes. I also realized the value of spontaneity and open-mindedness.
Some of my most memorable days in Paris were spun from serendipity: when I randomly decided to join a friend at the Pantheon and walked past beautiful churches and the Luxembourg Gardens on the thirty-minute walk there; when going to the summit of the Eiffel Tower was closed due to maximum capacity but opened up again just as I was getting ready to give up and leave; when I got the last-minute spot to visit Monet’s house in Giverny the day before the trip. My learning was enriched by the historical timing of July 2024, and I will cherish each element of the unforgettable experiences I had in Paris this summer. Without Huntsman, I never would have even recognized this experience as an opportunity I’d have access to. The program truly opened my eyes up to how incredibly invaluable a study abroad experience can be, and this was only a three week summer experience! I’m all the more excited for my official semester abroad in a couple of semesters. Back on campus, I’m still taking French classes, and this experience was what actually encouraged me to go ahead with a French minor! It’s honestly such a privilege to learn another language. I love my French classes even more now because they always remind me of the amazing time I had in France.
