University of Wisconsin–Madison

France: Angela Garcia (My Global Classroom)

A room with a purple carpet has tables arranged in a "U" shape with blue chairs behind the tables.
The Purple Room at the IES BIA Center where I have my business French and art history class.

My classes at the IES BIA Center differ from those at UW in that they are smaller classrooms ranging from 4 to 20 students. In Madison, I am used to having most of my classes take place in large lecture halls, but a smaller group allows for more discussion which I appreciate. In addition, some classes are three hours long, which sounds unpleasant, but this means we only meet once a week and get breaks mid-class. Out of the five classes I am taking this semester, three of them are in English and the other two are in French. My French classes have helped me tremendously since I feel like the more opportunities I get to practice it, the more I improve. Academically, there is a lower workload of assignments than at UW. Instead, there is a greater emphasis on exams and semester-long projects. Most of my homework consists of readings, reviewing lecture material, and working on larger projects.

Three people look and point at a painting of boats in a harbor at sunset.
Impression, Sunrise (1872) by Claude Monet located at Musée Marmottan Monet.

One of the biggest differences between IES BIA and UW-Madison courses is that there are a lot of opportunities for learning outside the classroom. Through class excursions we are able to tie course topics with all the things Paris has to offer. For instance, in my class “19th Century Art: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism” we can learn about a painting and then just 30 minutes later examine it in person. The benefits of learning about art in Paris!

The city itself is great for learning about history and culture. As a student you are able to enter most museums for free or at a reduced cost. In addition, speaking with locals gives you more insight on what it’s like to be a Parisian!

 

Angela takes a selfie wearing a gray Wisconsin sweatshirt.

Angela Garcia

Hometown: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Major: Computer Science & Information Systems

Program: IES Paris Business & International Affairs

I chose this program because I wanted the opportunity to immerse myself into the French culture and language. This program also offers courses that align with my academic requirements and interests. I am excited to improve my French and meet people of diverse backgrounds in the city of lights!