4 Affordable Learning Activities for Students Visiting Paris

Staying in one of the excellent youth hostels is a great way for the young (and young at heart) to explore Paris without burning a hole in your pocket. This is an especially attractive option for students aiming to study and learn in the city. You don't have to limit your studies to colleges and universities when there are plenty of other viable learning opportunities scattered all over Paris!

Watch Free Movies at the Parc de la Villette

Not only is the Parc de la Villette a great place to relax and reconnect with nature, but you'll also be able to catch a few free evening movies if you visit during the summer season. The park shows both classics and modern hits, all of which give you an idea of what media Parisians are most likely to favour. This makes an excellent venue for night-time outings with new friends, as long as you pack your own blankets and folding chairs. It's located at 30 rue Corentin-Cariou.

Discover Parisian Fashion at the Rue de Faubourg St. Honore

If you want to learn more about the latest trends in fashion, then you'll certainly want to visit the avenues here. Granted, if you're staying in one of the youth hostels you're not likely to be in the market to buy too much of what's here, however it is worth visiting to get some free fashion pointers from the shops - and the shoppers. Spend enough time observing, and you'll discover a few quirky ways to enhance your wardrobe with a distinct Parisian flavour!

Brush Up on Your French with the Franglish Community

If you want to meet new people while honing your grasp of the French language, then signing up with the Franglish community is just what you're looking for. You and a partner will alternate between seven minutes of speaking in French and then seven minutes of speaking in English, before rotating to chat with another partner. This is one of the best ways to network with local Parisians that are not only keen to learn English but are also looking to meet new people from abroad. It's a popular activity for students staying in any of the many youth hostels around Paris. Venues are designated, but do note you need to reserve a spot before attending by signing up on the Franglish website.

Learn the Practical Side of Art at Le Cent Quatre

Le Cent Quatre - or 'The 104' - is a cultural centre dedicated to art, innovation and production. Not only is this a great place for budding artists to meet like-minded individuals, but it also does so in a manner that blends art with business and enterprise. It's a wonderful experience for the socially aware student, too, since many of Le Cent Quatre's enterprises deal with community engagement and work experience programmes. This is also a great place to learn Wu Tao, a blend of Oriental martial arts; it's designed to help you build strength and de-stress at the same time. Le Cent Quatre is located at 106 rue d'Aubvervilliers, with Wu Tao workshops offered for free on weekend mornings.

Looking for a dream travel experience? Jason H. Cunningham works for Hostelling International, a company with more than 4,000 youth hostels worldwide in fantastic locations. For the best hostel experience, join our global community and say hi to the world. From quality, affordable accommodation and backpacker tips, to meaningful volunteer opportunities and enriching our eco footprint, we are the world's local hostelling hub.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8903876

6 Common Misconceptions about Study Abroad Programs

-Summer Study Abroad Programs-

With over 100,000 college students studying abroad every year, there's bound to be all kinds of tall tales, urban legends, and misinformation swirling around. While there may be grains of truth in some of these stories, below are some common misconceptions about study abroad.
Misconception #1: Studying abroad is very expensive.

Truth: In most cases, it is actually cheaper to study abroad. Let's say the tuition at your school is $5,000 per semester and room and board is another $4,000. Now add in the additional fees you have such as health insurance, books, and laundry. You are now well over $10,000 for the semester. Well, all but one of our programs in Spain is under $10,000 per semester and that includes everything except your airfare and spending money.

Misconception #2: I can't use my financial aid to study abroad.
Truth: In almost all cases, your federal aid (Stafford loans, Pell grants, etc.) can be used to study abroad and in some states, you can use your state aid as well. It is also not uncommon for your federal aid to increase when you study abroad since some of your school scholarships may not transfer.

Misconception #3: Host families are all poor and just do it for the money.
Truth: The last thing any study abroad company wants to do is have an unhappy student on their program. The goal is for the students to be happy so that they will tell their friends what a great time they had. If we were putting students in bad families, in dangerous neighborhoods, then no one would ever recommend us to their friends. Since the number of universities that endorse our program doubled over the last year, it's a pretty sure bet that students are happy with our choice of families.

Misconception #4: I'll be so busy with schoolwork that I won't get time to see the country I'm in.
Truth: This one is hysterically funny since your average study abroad student comes home with about 400+ photos from a long list of countries. Students have plenty of opportunities to travel and we even take our students on trips to give them a better feel for the country they are in.

Misconception #5: I might not graduate on time if I go abroad.
Truth: If you have already used up all of your elective or general education courses, then it's true that you might need to bulk up on courses before or after you go abroad. If you plan ahead, however, and leave some electives open to you, then you should be fine. The clear majority of students who study abroad still graduate in four years, despite being away from their home campus for a semester or two.

Misconception #6: Most of the world hates Americans, so I won't be safe.
Truth: There's no doubt that there are a lot of people who don't like the American government, but that has nothing to do with the American people. If you compare the violent crime rate in the United States to that of European, Australian, or Asian countries, you will see that the United States is actually far more dangerous. There are some areas of South America and Africa that are not especially safe, but there are also many countries on those continents that are incredibly safe. Go to the U.S. State Department website and check out the crime statistics on the country you are interested in to see how safe it is.

Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that every college student should take advantage of. Before dismissing it due to the bad experience of one friend or rumors you have had heard, speak with your study abroad advisor and get the facts. I guarantee that once you look at all that studying abroad can offer you, you'll be hopping the first flight abroad.

One organization that help ensure that you have safest, unforgettable yet affordable study abroad experience is Academic Studies Abroad.

Here are some of our very popular study abroad programs in the following countries:
-Study Abroad Spain - Academic Studies offers study abroad programs in Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca and Sevilla.
-Study Abroad England- Academic Studies offers study abroad programs in London.
-Study Abroad Italy - Academic Studies offers study abroad programs in Florence.
-Study Abroad France - Academic Studies offer study abroad programs in Aix-en-Provence and Avignon.
-Study Abroad Ireland - Academic Studies offers study abroad programs in Dublin. Interested in going to Ireland?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lee Frankel is Director of Academic Studies Abroad, a study abroad provider with programs in five different countries. He has traveled to over 25 countries and travels across the U.S. speaking with college students interested in studying abroad. More detailed information on study abroad programs is available at http://www.academicstudies.com/.

-Summer Study Abroad Programs-