First MGIM Students Begin their Semester in France
The students’ first course of business was to get acclimated to their new environment – the Université Paul Cézanne IAE Graduate School of Management in Puyricard, near Aix-en-Provence.
Getting acclimated meant completing the French Intensives – two weeks of daily French ‘Intensifs’ during which they were immersed in both French language and culture, followed by an outdoor adventure program in the Buoux, Luberon, countryside.
The goal of the Intensives was to help the students be at ease during their studies in France by helping them understand how to interact in with people in their new environment and to gain the confidence to venture out and experience the south of France.
MGIMers, as the 18 students now call themselves, were divided into four levels of language proficiency and then joined graduate students from around the world for their courses in reading, listening and speaking skills. Several of the MGIMers signed up for additional French language training, said David Henard, professor of business management in the NC State College of Management and director of the college’s International Studies program.
“I am very proud of the vigor with which the MGIM students have approached the ‘Intensifs.’ This short course is an invaluable tool in helping our students to integrate quickly with the French people. It has been wonderful to watch it unfold. The students, who came from the United States, Canada, France and China, have quickly bonded with their French professors,” Henard said.
“The French Intensive Course was very useful in learning about the French culture and a unique way to be exposed to other students from all around the world,” said Kalesia Kuenzel, one of the students. “We were able to meet other international graduate students at IAE and network while continuing our study of the language and way of life. The structure and design of the course was both vigorous and beneficial from tasting regional wine to learning about the history of Aix-en-Provence and surrounding areas.”
“I was shocked how much I could learn in just two weeks,” said Lauren Crumpler, another student. “I went from knowing zero French to speaking full sentences and surprisingly not butchering the pronunciation!”
Students who had studied French previously also appreciated the course. Jessica Bostian, who has an undergraduate degree in international business and a minor in French, said it was a “great way to begin our integration into France and the French school. It was great that it was broken down into the different levels, to give a more tailored approach to each student. The level four class was all in French and was great to review grammar and vocabulary.”
The outdoor adventure was intense in an entirely different way.
“The day was planned in order to give students a chance to try something new, overcome fears, build trust in their fellow students, and to basically begin to think ‘outside the box,’” Henard said. “The MGIM curriculum is geared toward preparing technically-oriented students to not only master core business and communication skills but to train their minds to approach problems from a creative, innovative perspective. What better way to begin that educational journey than with 20 new friends in the south of France.”
Under the guidance of professional instructors from a company headed by a former IAE MBA graduate, the MGIMers repelled down a mountain face, climbed up a craggy rock face, and hiked around the Luberon. Students cheered each other on and worked as a team. Aside from a few minor scrapes and bruises, the teams emerged unscathed by the adventures, Henard said.
“The Outdoor Day gave our group a chance to become closer and to strengthen right from the beginning,” said Ryan Vargochik, who has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering and management from NC State University. “A lot of trust was gained and friendships were created on that day.”
With the introductions to both country and fellow students completed, the MGIM cohort is now working on their fall semester courses. Details about this about the program are available on the NC State Jenkins MGIM website.
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