Sunday, December 13, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Academic Culture in France
My university was L'universite de Caen (Basse-Normandie). Just to brag a little: it was founded in 1432 by the 1st Duke of Bedford, John of Lancaster. It started as an academy of Norman Law. In july 1944, the university was destroyed (like most the city during WWII). It was rebuilt in 1948 and reopened on June1, 1957. The university logo is the Pheonix (for that historical reason).
Let's see....academic culture.
First difference: France does not have 'colleges'. Only universities. A degree is granted after 2 years (DEUG), 3 years (License) , 5 years (Master), and 8 years (Doctorat). There are no grand ceremony. Diplomas are sent via mail upon request. Early diplomas were simple computer printouts.
There are absolutely no support for students to adapt to academic demands. There are no requirements to show up in class (amphitheater), grades are provided mainly at the end of the semester for one big final exam. Some professors ask for a 10 page paper homework in the middle of the semester, but all in all, it's all on the comprehensive final exam (a hand written essay question). However, smaller courses (30 students in a classroom) do have a headcount and usually 3 absences at the beginning of the year is an automatic expulsion from the course.
Most classes are in amphitheater. Professors do not know students. The relationship between professor and students is very formal (Dr So&So: absolutely no first name basis!), and usually nonexistent.
The French students are quite often on strikes due to their interest in current socio-political items. Depending on the location, courses continue or are postponed. The strikes are usually never violent and take the form of street walking or group gathering on the university green.
Academic standards:
when i was at my university, computers were barely showing and in my department *(English major) there were only 6 of those, to be used only to teach basic DOS for students who took that elective. There were no computer labs where students could check their emails or type adn print their homeworks. HOmeworks were handwritten. (I do not know how things are now)
Grades: don't expect As. Nobody gets As or a rare 10% of the university population. An average -and most common- grade is a D (passing) which usually translates as a grade between 10 to 12 out of 20 (we use a numerical system of grade. no letters). If you get a 15/20 grade, you can celebrate and frame it.
There are no points given for attendance nor effort. Points are taken away for bad grammar, spelling or conjugation. My profs used to warn us that after 5 typos/mispelling/grammar errors, they refuse to grade the paper.
Plagiarism: the US are a lot more strict than the French when quoting or not a source. So American students going to France actually have an advantage here.
Miscellaneous:
* help on campus: campus staff and faculty are government employees. This usually translates into extremely poor service (no correlation between countries ;-P. So do not take it personally if the library staff stays on the phone talking to her girlfriend while you wait for her to help you. yet again, you might be lucky and meet very helpful people.
The best strategy is to make friends with local students who can help you navigate the campus. Ask the international office staff on campus (usually the same office that takes care of your visit in France) if there are students who are listed as 'ambassadors' or who are listed as willing to help foreigners on campus.
IF i remember something i'll email you again,
let me know if you think of something more,
S.
Let's see....academic culture.
First difference: France does not have 'colleges'. Only universities. A degree is granted after 2 years (DEUG), 3 years (License) , 5 years (Master), and 8 years (Doctorat). There are no grand ceremony. Diplomas are sent via mail upon request. Early diplomas were simple computer printouts.
There are absolutely no support for students to adapt to academic demands. There are no requirements to show up in class (amphitheater), grades are provided mainly at the end of the semester for one big final exam. Some professors ask for a 10 page paper homework in the middle of the semester, but all in all, it's all on the comprehensive final exam (a hand written essay question). However, smaller courses (30 students in a classroom) do have a headcount and usually 3 absences at the beginning of the year is an automatic expulsion from the course.
Most classes are in amphitheater. Professors do not know students. The relationship between professor and students is very formal (Dr So&So: absolutely no first name basis!), and usually nonexistent.
The French students are quite often on strikes due to their interest in current socio-political items. Depending on the location, courses continue or are postponed. The strikes are usually never violent and take the form of street walking or group gathering on the university green.
Academic standards:
when i was at my university, computers were barely showing and in my department *(English major) there were only 6 of those, to be used only to teach basic DOS for students who took that elective. There were no computer labs where students could check their emails or type adn print their homeworks. HOmeworks were handwritten. (I do not know how things are now)
Grades: don't expect As. Nobody gets As or a rare 10% of the university population. An average -and most common- grade is a D (passing) which usually translates as a grade between 10 to 12 out of 20 (we use a numerical system of grade. no letters). If you get a 15/20 grade, you can celebrate and frame it.
There are no points given for attendance nor effort. Points are taken away for bad grammar, spelling or conjugation. My profs used to warn us that after 5 typos/mispelling/grammar errors, they refuse to grade the paper.
Plagiarism: the US are a lot more strict than the French when quoting or not a source. So American students going to France actually have an advantage here.
Miscellaneous:
* help on campus: campus staff and faculty are government employees. This usually translates into extremely poor service (no correlation between countries ;-P. So do not take it personally if the library staff stays on the phone talking to her girlfriend while you wait for her to help you. yet again, you might be lucky and meet very helpful people.
The best strategy is to make friends with local students who can help you navigate the campus. Ask the international office staff on campus (usually the same office that takes care of your visit in France) if there are students who are listed as 'ambassadors' or who are listed as willing to help foreigners on campus.
IF i remember something i'll email you again,
let me know if you think of something more,
S.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Travel Photos and Stories
While cleaning my digital world last week, I came across a handful of travel albums from the past. Here are a few to share. I might tell some stories later too:
Most recent (Palau): http://picasaweb.google.com/belleminjuan/Carolines?feat=directlink
Australia: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=cg6dzr1.5g4d7nkh&x=0&y=q51vyz&localeid=en_US
Scenery of Paris
Window Display from the World
Quite a few linked to my homepage: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/mwang/mwang.html
The sites I have been using to share photos:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/
http://multiply.com/
http://picasaweb.google.com/
http://www.flickr.com/
If you have an album to share, feel free to post on our blog!
Most recent (Palau): http://picasaweb.google.com/belleminjuan/Carolines?feat=directlink
Australia: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=cg6dzr1.5g4d7nkh&x=0&y=q51vyz&localeid=en_US
Scenery of Paris
Window Display from the World
Quite a few linked to my homepage: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/mwang/mwang.html
The sites I have been using to share photos:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/
http://multiply.com/
http://picasaweb.google.com/
http://www.flickr.com/
If you have an album to share, feel free to post on our blog!
Make the best use of the Study-Abroad Handout
http://www.isc.sdsu.edu/study_abroad/forms/studenthandbook2009-10.pdf
We'll go over some of the checklists and tips in class, for example:
Page 30: The pre-departure checklist
One important thing to think about: Save money on your car insurance while away.
Whenever I go away for more than 2 months, I keep my car registration, file an Affidavit of No-Use to the DMV (fax is acceptable), and then Suspend my insurance (with comprehensive coverage still in place).
Before returning to the U.S., I go online and reactivate my car insurance. I don't remember filing any forms with DMV, to start using my car. The insurance company will send your renewed info. to DMV and that seems taking care of it.
"If your vehicle is currently registered and you decide not to use it, you must maintain insurance or notify DMV that you will not be using it by completing an Affidavit of Non Use. Upon receipt of an Affidavit of Non Use, DMV will cancel the registration. The vehicle cannot be operated on a California highway until proof of insurance is received by the department, a reinstatement fee is not due when the registration is cancelled."
We'll go over some of the checklists and tips in class, for example:
Page 30: The pre-departure checklist
One important thing to think about: Save money on your car insurance while away.
Whenever I go away for more than 2 months, I keep my car registration, file an Affidavit of No-Use to the DMV (fax is acceptable), and then Suspend my insurance (with comprehensive coverage still in place).
Before returning to the U.S., I go online and reactivate my car insurance. I don't remember filing any forms with DMV, to start using my car. The insurance company will send your renewed info. to DMV and that seems taking care of it.
"If your vehicle is currently registered and you decide not to use it, you must maintain insurance or notify DMV that you will not be using it by completing an Affidavit of Non Use. Upon receipt of an Affidavit of Non Use, DMV will cancel the registration. The vehicle cannot be operated on a California highway until proof of insurance is received by the department, a reinstatement fee is not due when the registration is cancelled."
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