Francine Nnyina is spending a semester in New Jersey on exchange from France.

Eight years ago, I moved to France to study English at the Universite de Saint-Denis (Paris VIII). I decided to come to the United States a year ago when I realized that in order to further my English studies, I needed to live in an English-speaking country.

Classes in France are organized the same way they are here in the U.S., in a semester system. The only difference is that students can graduate after three years instead of four. I was about to graduate when I resolved to spend some time in America. I decided to learn more about English-speaking culture before I move ahead for my master's degree in Translation from English to French.

When I first came here everything looked so big: the streets, the buildings and the cars. I was not too surprised because America has always been presented to me as the country of dreams where everything is giant. I was excited by the idea that America was no longer just an imaginary country, but a real country in which I had to live for a while. I have already been here for a month-and-a-half (at the time of this writing), and I have noticed some major differences between the countries.

The students here have easier access to computers, allowing them to go to websites for research. In France ... the majority do not have access to computers at all.

First of all, I have found that in terms of studies, there is much more work here than in France. I had never faced such an amount of work during the three years I had spent at my university. I had even studied American literature, but did not have as many books to read as I do now.

For example, my Women Writers class requires at least six books, not counting the excerpts. I have read many novels, and written many essays on them, but I think what I have to do here is at least five times as much as what I did in France.

I guess the difference between the French educational system and the American system is that in France, the courses cover a particular subject in depth, whereas here the classes embrace a large range of topics, but more superficially. However, the interesting point is how the classes are more alive here than in France because the American students are more apt to speak and to express their opinions clearly on a subject.

The classes here are also smaller, which could make them more interactive. But they aren't because most students do not try to study together. This would allow those who understand quickly to help those who do not, but instead each student works alone.

The other thing that astonishes me is the difference in terms of technology. The students here have easier access to computers, allowing them to go to websites for research. In France, some people have computers at home, but the majority do not have access to computers at all. At my university, there are two or three computer laboratories, but they do not meet the needs of around 6,000 students. I have never even heard a professor mention an address for a website. The fact is that they know how hard it is for students to access the Internet.

What I find fantastic is how the professors are more approachable here than in France. The students can easily communicate with them during their office hours without an appointment and through e-mail. The professors really care a lot for their students, especially for me since they know that it sometimes can be difficult for me to understand everything. I really appreciate their attitude because it has helped me a lot.