What a High School Abroad Is Really Like from a Student's Perspective

Post written by Ambassador Abroad, Rose Dupuis, who is currently participating in our High School Abroad Program in France!

One of the things that I was the most curious about before starting my program was the school abroad. I had no idea what to expect from French school. I had heard some things from old language teachers and family friends who had studied abroad over 30 years ago, but nobody had a clear picture of what to expect. When I arrived at my school I was definitely shocked by some things, mostly in good ways. All my input on these subjects comes from the perspective of a student in Première at a French lycée, I cannot speak for other countries or age levels. 

School Life 

The teacher-student relationship is very different in France than in America, and it varies even further in other countries. In France, students respect the teachers greatly, using formal speech with them. Students are expected to stay silent in class, and will be reprimanded for chatting, something I learned the hard way! As an added layer of respect, students cannot sit until the teacher tells them to do so. This does not apply to every class, but most teachers follow this. At my school, there is even a separate staircase for teachers. The large stairway in the foyer of the school is only to be used by teachers, there are smaller ones at each end of the hallways for the students.  

Ambassadors Abroad  

I spoke with some ambassadors on the high school semester abroad program in other countries, and their experiences are different as well. Abbie, who’s studying in Seville, Spain, remarked that students do not raise their hands to ask questions and that the students talk much more than in America. “The noise level is very different; my school back home is almost always extremely quiet but here there is someone always talking besides the teacher.” 

Another ambassador, Elena, who’s on program in Kyoto, Japan, noted a high level of respect between students and teachers. “The respect dynamic between students and teachers really surprised me. I have not once seen a student talk back to or disobey an adult at school. That respect is of course returned by the staff, but I feel that because the polite approach is truly mutual it has a totally different feeling from America.” 

Dining 

The thing that people from my school at home ask me about the most is school lunches. I was apprehensive at first, since the French students aren’t too fond of the ‘cantine’ themselves, but I, as well as the other American students, loved it!  

The dining experience is very different from any American school I’ve seen. I have an hour and a half for lunch, as opposed to the 35 minutes I had at home. However, this time is definitely needed, because my friends and I wait in line for at least half an hour. Almost everyone at my school gets school lunch or walks to the McDonalds (McDo!) and grocery store next door. A rare few go home for lunch, which was never possible at my American school. I was very surprised that no students brought food from home, as that is what the majority do at my school at home. In fact, they won’t let people into the cafeteria at my French school if they aren’t eating the school lunch.  

The food itself was my biggest shock. Every day we’re offered a dessert, cheese/yogurt, an appetizer, a main course, and a piece of bread. Each of these contains multiple choices each day, including vegetarian, fish, and meat options. Most everything is fresh and the options change every day. Some of my favorite meals have been lasagna and beef with mashed potatoes. There hasn’t been a meal that I’ve disliked so far, it’s all been so good. It’s a large contrast from what we were given at my school at home, which some days was barely edible. I’ve shown some of my French classmates' photos of the lunch at home and they’ve all been surprised. One thing I did note was that my school here does not offer breakfast, while my school at home does. Students here who don’t have time to eat before leaving school have to bring something to eat between classes. My school also has a coffee machine with almost twenty warm drink options, which most students use during lunch or free periods. 

School Life 

Everyone before I went abroad told me that school in Europe was so much harder, and it is certainly different. The main goal for French students is to earn good marks on the Baccalaureate, and they focus most of their energy on studying first for their French Bac and then their three specialty tests the year after. These tests put a lot of pressure on them, as they determine what college the students get into.  

Zoe, who’s studying abroad in Italy gave some insight on school in Europe. “One of the main differences studying abroad in Italy in my perspective is of course the language but their discipline, the Italian students generally go to school 6 days a week and study around 11 subjects depending on what type of school you are whether it’s classical, scientific, art-based…” She summed up the Italian school experience by noting “But all the students are taught to put a great focus on academics and study for hours on hours daily to prepare them for university.” The same could be said for French students, as they focus very heavily on academics and university. 

Unlike in America, they learn what college they get into at the end of their last year of high school, and they spend their entire education studying for it, which leaves no room for senioritis towards the end of their education. French students spend a lot of time studying, although good grades are somewhat rare. Teachers are harsh graders, and it requires excellent work to get a high grade. Teachers don’t give a lot of homework, but if an assignment is not finished in class, it is expected that the student will complete it at home. The tests are difficult, and some teachers give dissertations to complete in class as well. Honestly, I think school is more difficult in some ways and easier in others. It all really depends on what specialties you choose and how your time is used. There are some things that I definitely find harder than at home, but some parts that I really like, and think make school more enjoyable than in America. 

Mara shared her experience on a program in Seville: “The workload in classes here is much more intense, with homework every night from at least several classes. While it’s manageable, if you put it off it can be stressful (I know from experience)! All in all, while there are differences here, school is school everywhere: you have interesting classmates, plenty of classes, and lots of fun memories.”  

Most people studying abroad agree that school is more serious and the work can be tough, but that high school abroad is a great learning experience, even if it seems really hard in the moment and can be amazing if you make the most of it. 

One of the best things for me in making school manageable has been my school schedule. French school starts around 8 in the morning, but if you don’t have a class, you can go in later. Also, if you don’t have classes in the afternoon, you can leave whenever you want. From what I’ve seen, French schools are liberal with the freedom of students, students can come and go as they please, provided they don’t miss classes. There are multiple stores next to my school, including a boulangerie, a large grocery store, a florist, a craft store, a gym, and a McDonalds, and students can go anytime they want.  

Classes in France vary from one to two hours, depending on the subject. Typically, specialty subjects and French, the subjects required for the Baccalaureate, are two hours each, twice a week. These change in the last year of school, as hours increase per specialty and Philosophy is added. The other classes are usually an hour, some longer, and those are twice a week as well. I have lots of free time in my schedule, usually around lunch, where I can go study in the library, or one of the two study halls, a silent one and one where people can collaborate with others on assignments. Sometimes these breaks are used productively, and sometimes I hang out with friends or go to the grocery store. Aside from the longer breaks, every two hours we have a 15-minute recess, where all the students go outside. This break is so great, especially when it’s in the middle of one of the two-hour blocks. It gives students a chance to clear their heads and catch up with friends, grab a coffee, or study quickly.  

After School Activities 

Once your classes finish, you can go home, which is great, especially on the days when I finish two hours early. Every Wednesday is a half day, and students use that time for sports, homework, and to be with their families. Some people go to the city and shop, or they go with the athletic club to rock climb, ski, or bike. It’s honestly one of the best things, because it gives time to relax and catch up on any work for the second half of the week.  

Overall, I love my school abroad, and it is one of the best parts of being in the high school semester abroad program in France! It’s different from my school at home, but they are both their own amazing experiences, and I think though it can be difficult at times, French school is so rewarding, and I'm so glad to be having this experience!  

If you are interested in studying abroad during high school, you can apply here or you can schedule a call with an Enrollment Coordinator to start planning.    

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