Lyon, France: Intensive French, Undergrad Studies in English

The staff in charge of the program were very helpful in trying to assist students. However for my program, there were only 2 placement groups:beginner and advanced. For me, I didn’t fit into either the groups. The advance was too hard and the beginner group was super basic. For example it only covered basic concepts such as greetings.

Studying abroad with USAC in Lyon was hands down the best experience. The program was laid-back but organized, the USAC team is great, and Lyon is such a fun, easy city to live in. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

In the spring of 2025 I was given the opportunity to study abroad in Lyon, France. Lyon wasn’t just a place I studied—it was a place that rewired me. Coming from Zambia to the USA and then the USA to France, I thought I was prepared for culture shock. I wasn’t. The language humbled me, the pace of life slowed me down, and the people forced me to actually "observe" instead of rush. Lyon taught me how to sit with myself. Long walks by the Rhône, quiet cafés where nobody cared who I was or where I came from or judge, everyone is super friendly and helpful. They also appreciate when I try to speak French and will often help me if my grammar is wrong or I forget a phrase. The freedom was uncomfortable at first, then addictive. I learned more outside the classroom than inside it. I learned confidence by being misunderstood and still speaking. I learned independence by figuring things out alone, including traveling to different countries alone. I learned how different the world feels when you’re the outsider—and how powerful it is when you stop trying to fit in and just exist. France challenged my views on relationships, ambition, and identity. It made me question what success actually looks like when nobody around you shares your background. Every time I am asked if I would recommend this program to someone else, a million times, YES!

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This program was really incredible for improving my language skills! Many people spoke English, so it was easy to struggle in my second language along with the people I was speaking with. There was very little pressure and often times people would help me or give me to space to express myself. The classes were also very helpful with us starting class by sharing what slang we learned! I chose Lyon for the academics and even though that was my priority I fell in love with the city. Lyon is a large city but has a smaller city feel. There was so much to explore but it didn't feel too overwhelming. As Lyon was very influential city for the French resistance during WWII, there is a lot of history embedded into the city. There were so many opportunities to meet people in and outside of the university and program. I was able to engage with French language and culture as well as engage with the immigrant communities! The onsite staff were also incredible and helped me through many situations!

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While there is no place like home, there's a piece I left with me in Lyon, France, because of the wonderful experience I had. I was really unsure on what 5 weeks could bring, but it brought friendships, adventures, and a great love for the city. The courses I took immersed me in the city greatly, being able to learn more of the language, architecture, and being able to explore all beautiful parts of it.

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Studying abroad in Lyon, France during July 2025 was one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic journey. From the moment I arrived, I felt immersed in a city that perfectly balances history, culture, and modern life. Lyon is incredibly walkable, beautiful, and full of character, which made it easy to feel at home while still constantly discovering something new. One of the biggest strengths of the program was the small class sizes. This allowed for more personalized attention from professors and created a supportive learning environment where I felt comfortable participating and asking questions. Academically, the program challenged me while still being engaging and enjoyable. Cultural immersion was a major highlight. Living in Lyon meant experiencing French culture firsthand—whether that was shopping at local markets, enjoying long café conversations, or navigating daily life entirely in French. Being surrounded by the language helped me improve my French at a much higher level than I ever could in a traditional classroom setting back home. By the end of the program, I felt more confident speaking, listening, and understanding the language in real-world situations. Travel was another unforgettable part of the experience. Lyon’s central location made it easy to explore other parts of France and nearby countries, adding even more depth to the summer. Overall, this study abroad experience helped me grow academically, culturally, and personally, and I would highly recommend Lyon to any student looking for an enriching and immersive program.

My time in Lyon, France was the best 5 months of my life. The USAC program was designed in such a great way, to help promote cultural immersion and provide ample support for students. The staff was incredibly warm and welcoming, and I developed great relationships with the program directors by the time I left. The city was a perfect size, not too big to the point it was crowded, but not too small, because there was always something new to see or do. The food and restaurants were outstanding, and prices were very reasonable (easy to find a meal for anywhere from $10-$15). I got to volunteer with French elementary students, participate in a language exchange program with other French university students, and go on many organized trips around France to learn more about the country. I would move back in a heartbeat!

I had the opportunity to fulfill one of my life long dreams and the results were even better than I imagined. I met so many amazing and wonderful people from all over the world. The USAC staff onsite were very welcoming, friendly, and truly cared for each and every one of us. The program was laid out perfectly, with field trips being sprinkled across the semester. My favorite USAC field trip was snowshoeing in La Clusaz as the views were absolutely stunning- I have never seen anything like this being from the midwest. Lyon itself was a really engaging city, I felt like there were always events and places to go to. There were so many hidden gems throughout the city and it felt like an adventure uncovering them. The courses at UCLY were perfect and all the professors were very understanding and enjoyed answering your questions or working one on one with you. Overall, being in Lyon was an amazing opportunity and I am so grateful that I got to call that city home.

This program was an amazing experience. I really felt immersed in the French culture and going abroad with a group of other American students provided a community that helped a lot with feelings of homesickness. We had the opportunity to go to a winery and a few tours to different regions in France which was very fun. Lyon itself was a great city to live in, there were tons of options of things to do and the public transit system was so easy to use. If I had enough time I would do it again!

I 1000% would recommend this program to anyone who asks me about it. I studied abroad through USAC in Lyon in the summer of 2023 and had the most remarkable time of my life. I am an athlete so going abroad during a fall or winter semester wasn't an option for me. Despite this, I have always always wanted to study abroad and USAC gave me the most perfect opportunity. I met so many remarkable people (the majority of whom I am still great friends with!!) and experienced so many new things. While I was in France I was able to study under amazing professors who enhanced by knowledge of the French language but what I valued most were the cultural experiences. Having dinner with my classmates in Old Lyon, eating bread and drinking wine on the banks of the river, and the traveling I was able to do are some of my favourite memories of France. Lyon is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and I am so lucky to have had this opportunity. I was 19 years old at the time and I'm female but I felt so safe the entire time and enjoyed every second of my experience.

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Going to Lyon has been one of the best experiences of my entire life! I have met so many amazing people worldwide that I am thankfully still in contact with a few months after my study abroad trip. It was easy to make than the level I was in. The adjustment to advance to higher levels if I felt my French was more advanced than the level I was in. My French improved greatly over the 5 weeks I spent in Lyon. Partly because I part in the effort to learn, partly because the classes were so helpful, and partly because of the Lyon natives who were willing to help me with corrections and sometimes through conversation. I would definitely reccomend Lyon to anybody interested in studying abroad in Europe!

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I will not lie, I was worried before I went abroad. Some of the readings made me think we were gonna be reigned in and policed in our time abroad. Nothing could have been further from the truth. USAC Lyon gave us all the tools we needed to succeed and cut us loose, with support in the office should we need it for anything. Stefano and Olga do such a good job organizing, supporting and helping students and their activities. I cannot say enough good thing about them and the work that they did which enabled us to have the experience that we did. Moving on to said experience, I cannot say enough good things about my time abroad. It truly was the most fun, most interesting, most impactful thing that I have ever done in my life. Living in student housing was great. I loved my little shoe box room and made great friends with people from around the world in our dorm. The program was also fantastic. I feel like my French fortified so quickly and the instruction made it much more practical then ever before. I also made friends from around the world in my classes, some of which I will be going back to France, or somewhere else, to see. The ILCF enabled this level of cultural exchange which made the experience even more powerful and worldly. I also made some of the closest friends in my life from the group of USAC students in Lyon. People who I didn't know at the beginning of 2024 are now some of my closest friends, and are people I will know and cherish forever. Lyon is also a fantastic city that I think about every day. It really feels so French, and people will speak to you in French as well. I am a rather large, rather American-looking gentlemen, but never did people speak English to me, or even think I was American. Getting to really immerse myself in the culture and the language made this an even more powerful experience. I think and long for Lyon every day, I have been home almost 5 months at this point and there has not been a day where I don't think about Lyon and all the people and places which made it so special. I can't emphasize that enough. To conclude, I cannot say enough good things about USAC Lyon. The city, the program, the organizers, the people I met along the way, the food, new friends. All of it. I will be grateful for the experience I had for the rest of my life, and it has left with a profound curiosity and a strong desire to return to France for some period of time. I think about it every day. If you are thinking about this program or France in general: go, please go. You will not regret it, and with USAC, you're in the best hands you could be in.

The semester I spent abroad in Lyon, France was truly one of the best times of my life and an experience of a lifetime. I'm incredibly grateful for all the ways I was challenged through this program, developing my language skills and learning about another culture. The people I met studying abroad are some of my favorite people in the world, and we're all still in touch nearly a year later. I would recommend studying abroad to everyone I know. You won't regret the chance to learn, grow, and make connections.

Studying abroad in Lyon, France, was an incredible experience where I discovered so much about myself and French culture. While the initial introduction to the city and program was a bit daunting, I quickly made friends whom I still talk to every day, even though the program ended months ago. Everyone I met was so warm, welcoming, and excited to broaden their worldview. Through my French classes at Université Catholique de Lyon and immersing myself in the city, my French comprehension and speaking skills became extremely impressive by the end of the semester. On another note, the city of Lyon itself boasts a blend of historic charm and modern flair. It was a major city during the Roman Empire and is still thriving today, thousands of years later. Additionally, Lyon’s culinary scene is nothing short of spectacular. As the gastronomic capital of France, the city is a food lover’s paradise. My friends and I would sit for hours at brasseries, observing the French natives who traversed the streets and, of course, expanding our palates by trying traditional Lyonnaise cuisine. Furthermore, Lyon’s stunning parks, such as Parc de la Tête d'Or, Place Carnot, and Bellecour, along with the city’s efficient public transportation, make exploring the city and finding places to relax a breeze. The local community, combined with fellow international students, made my time here incredibly enriching and memorable. Overall, Lyon offers an extraordinary balance of academic excellence, cultural richness, and personal growth. It’s a city that promises not just a study abroad experience but a journey filled with joy, discovery, and lasting memories.

My time in Lyon France has been an amazing and unforgettable experience. I grew so much as a person and improved my French. I really appreciate all of the support provided by the program advisor and all the professors. Lyon was a wonderful city to live in as there is a lot to do and experience but has a calm living environment. My favorite parts of the program were going on day trips. I also enjoyed exploring the many parks Lyon has to offer.

I don't understand why I doubted coming to Lyon to study abroad! The 5 weeks I spent here has improved my life and academic career for the better. Life in another country seemed impossible to immerse myself into but after the helpful leadership from the USAC advisors Stefano & Olga, I was completely set up for success. The city tour on our first official day was absolutely crucial for how I got around the town not only alone but with others. The classes I took, French Conversation, French Cuisine, and French Art & Architecture were all very beginner-French friendly which I appreciated. Traveling on the weekends was more than attainable if going to another city or country is what you wish. I felt more than fulfilled with the guided/included field trips we had.

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What I loved about my experience abroad: -Getting to learn French and be in an environment where my friends in my program were also learning it -My living situation: I lived with a French woman and though it was somewhat more expensive than I might have loved, I think speaking with her and her family improved my French a lot and she was nice and the food was delicious! -my friends: I made a few through the program and a few through outside activities and I am really happy with how that worked out What I would change: -I wish there were more group check ins. Yes, we could go to the USAC office when needed but there were not many intentional check ins unless they needed a form filled out. Especially as a black girl studying abroad, there were many small things that I had to figure out on my own like my hair and racism. -classes: I loved my friend classes, I did not love the USAC classes as I don’t feel I got as much out of them as the class I took straight from the university (ucly) so if your school will accept those credits, I recommend adding those when you get on campus!

I studied abroad through USAC in Lyon, France in the spring of 2024. I am so grateful to have taken the leap of faith to get out of my comfort zone and see the world! My favorite part of my study abroad journey was all of the wonderful people I had the pleasure of meeting. These friendships I have made will surely last a lifetime! The USAC on sight program staff were always eager to help with anything I needed. Lyon was the perfect city to obtain an immersive experience filled with loads of amazing food and culture!

To start off, I would like to say that studying abroad was the best experience of my life. I studied in Lyon, France for the fall 2023 semester, and I wish I would have extended to stay the whole year. Even though I had heard great stories from study abroad alumni and my professors, I still wasn't sure what to expect. You can't truly begin to understand the experience until you study abroad yourself. I was worried it would be difficult to make friends or that I would miss my family, but living in France proved me wrong. Immediately everyone in the program became friends and we would travel together every weekend. I was so fortunate to have had program advisors who cared so much about our experience. Olga and Stefano took us on field trips and happily explained everything to us. If we ever needed help with anything or just suggestions on places to eat or things to see, they always had the perfect answer. They always suggested fun activities. For example I was able to attend the Rugby World Cup, a local soccer match, volunteer weekly, explore local cuisine, and learn what it is like to live in France. Studying abroad opened my eyes to how large the world is, and in four short months I was able to visit 15 cities across 6 different countries and learn a little about each of their culture. I learned how to be more independent because of studying abroad. It taught me how to use public transportation, book housing, plan activities, and live on my own. Every day I was challenged by the language, but it made me more inspired to learn. Most days after class my friends and I would visit Le Lautrec and we quickly became regulars to one of the workers. She helped us practice our French which made me feel more confident about speaking to other native French speakers. My classes were unlike any of my classes in the United States. I looked forward to class every day. I would have class from 8am-12pm, then I had the rest of my day to explore Lyon. My professors made sure to speak only in French, and we practiced reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The longer the classes went on, the more confident I began to feel when I would go into the city. One of my favorite parts about studying abroad was how many international students I met. My class was made up of international students from across the globe. I wasn't only learning about French culture, but I was also learning about Japanese, African, Mexican, and Malaysian cultures just to name a few. Studying abroad made me gain a more global view. I was always stuck in an American mindset, but now I've seen that there is so much more to the world. It has made me interested in global matters and has made me wanderlust. The great thing about studying abroad is now I have many friends across the globe that I can visit. We are already planning a reunion and it hasn't even been a year since we've seen each other!

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Lyon is situated between some of France and Europe’s most compelling tourist destinations, but beware of the 4 hour/day French courses that are mandatory to attend alongside regular courses. USAC professors were disorganized, but program staff were phenomenal. Little opportunity to interact with university students outside of program. Requires an intentionally positive outlook & someone who is self motivated!