Dear IUHPFL Staff and Professors,

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you. I participated in the 2014 trip to Saumur, France and it was this trip that truly inspired me to pursue my dreams and ambitions in foreign language. Following my summer abroad in Saumur, two years later during the 2015-2016 academic year, I lived in Montpellier, France and attended the university there which was truly life changing. During this trip, I visited my old host parents in Saumur twice, and it truly felt like a home away from home! Afterwards, I proceeded down to Spain to live for almost three months with a host family, armed with only the basics in Spanish language and grammar, but thanks to my experience with the IUHPFL, I knew how important and advancing an immersion experience can be and during those short months, my Spanish advanced by leaps and bounds.

As of now I have achieved a C2 level in French on the European scale which places me at fluent and a C1 level in Spanish at highly proficient. I am heading down to Argentina from March through July for another study abroad immersion experience to continue my Spanish studies. All this is possible thanks to my university who has awarded me with some excellent travel scholarships. However, I owe my thanks and eternal gratitude to the IUHPFL staff and professors for not only accepting me into the program, but pushing me to be my absolute best and learn the language in the most organic way possible. Had that not been the case, I am not sure where I would be today; however, I am sure my collegiate career would not have unfolded in this way! So, thank you again for all that you do!

Sincerely,
Thomas Maxwell
IUHPFL Alumni 2014 - Saumur, France