France: Lucca Pulvermacher
Program: Academic Program in Aix-en-Provence, Spring
Lucca’s Major: Elementary Education, French Certificate
What is the moment you are most proud of?
I think the moment that I’m most proud of is when I went to Paris by myself for a week at the end of my program and was able to plan my activities and navigate the city on my own. It felt like the four months I spent in Aix-en-Provence were building up my self confidence and my independence so that I would be able to handle traveling to Paris on my own.
I had never travelled much before my study abroad experience, and certainly not on my own, so going to Paris at the end of my program felt like a test of everything I had learned about France and myself and I am very proud of myself for having figured it out and having a successful and enjoyable time there.
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
My most memorable experience from my program was volunteering at an after school program for French middle and high schoolers once a week. Myself and a few other students from my program helped the French students with their English homework and had conversations with them to help them practice their practical English conversation skills. The kids were all wonderful and spending an hour with them every week not only allowed them to work on their English, but it gave me the opportunity to interact with young French people and learn more about French culture which I really appreciated.
How will your experience benefit you in the future? How might it affect your future career or studies?
I think my experience will help me in the future with both my career and my studies. My major is elementary education with a focus on English as a Second Language. My time in France gave me experience living and going to school in a place where the language is not my first language. While my situation in France was different from the situations of many students I will possibly teach in the future for whom English is not their first language, I think my time going to school in France and studying all in French for a semester will allow me to understand a little more how difficult it is to go to school in a language other than your first language and that will help me to better understand and serve my future students.