The University of Lyon 2 and Sciences Po

This past week I started the Intensive Language Program here, which consists of three classes: writing, oral, and university techniques, which varies in subject matter depending on whether we chose Letters, Human Sciences, or Political Science. I'm taking the Letters class, and I am enjoying that class the most. It's mostly a review of literary analysis, but from a French perspective. We're learning some different essay forms that they expect you to know as a university student in France.

Although these language classes are useful for improving my language skills and preparing me for real classes here at the University of Lyon 2, I'm ready for them to be over. I only have one week left of them, and then the week after next, regular university classes start. I still have no idea what those classes will be, and I won't pick until next week.

The French university system works a lot differently than in the U.S. By the time students have completed their baccalaureate degree at the end of high school, they have already chosen a subject to focus in. Thus, they come to college already part of a department. French students don't really get much of a choice of what classes to take or when their classes will be. So it doesn't matter if the department only tells them which courses are available a week before classes start. This complicates matters for international students, like me, who are trying to take classes in multiple departments. I can tell that trying to plan my schedule for the semester is going to be stressful.

It also doesn't help that the University of Lyon 2, where I am studying, has two campuses on different sides of the city. The one I've been taking classes at so far is right next to the river. The other one, Bron, is farther out, on the periphery of the city. Luckily, the house where I'm living is located between these two locations. Still, I will have to coordinate my schedule carefully to make sure I can actually make it to where I need to be at the right time.

To complicate things even more, there is also an autonomous school within Lyon 2, Institute d'Etudes Politiques, also known as Sciences Po, which is also offering classes. I'm going to try to take a combination of classes from Lyon 2 and Sciences Po, because I think it would be pretty interesting to see what french political science classes are like.

That's how the academic side of my studying abroad is going, so far. I was pretty proud of myself when I tested into level 6 out of 7 for the Intensive Language Program classes. I guess all the French I have been taking for 15 years is finally paying off. My comprehension has really improved here. Yesterday, I listened to a two-hour lecture by a Poli Sci professor on the current state of French politics, and I understood almost 100% of what he was saying. I am still struggling a lot with speaking French. I make a lot of grammatical mistakes, but I'm able to get my point across. I know I can do better if I keep practicing.

In other news, I may be signing up for an unpaid internship with a local environmental organization started by students. If I end up doing that, it will definitely force me to develop better speaking skills very quickly. Also, it would be cool to see the French perspective on environmental issues and sustainability, or what they call, "developpement durable". 

Pictures of the Lyon 2 Campus by the Rhône