Université Michel de Montaigne: Bordeaux III

Unfortunately, I didn't get to know too many French people. Now I know lots of people from all over Europe, this is the best gain from this Erasmus experience! I learned a lot about foreign cultures, but I really wished to get a better insight into the life of my host country. I didn't make really good French friends in France, which I regret a bit. But it was not for lack of communication. Getting insight into other ERasmus students' lives and countries also broadened my mind. My language experience improved however. We talked French almost all the time, also among the Erasmus students. Some French said that we learn mistakes that way too; this might be true, but you can also learn from foreigners. But in all situations of everyday life, you are forced to speak French. This year really helped a lot, especially concerning oral competence. I'm now perfectly able to talk with a friend about my weekend activities and to go into a bank and open an account.

I made some progress, I learned some words and expressions and I enjoyed living in a country with another language. But it was not difficult because, when I moved there, I already spoke French fluently and had been in France several times. I can understand that living in a country where you cannot communicate is difficult, specially with administrative matters. I was living in Holland for almost two years and the beginning was really hard because I had to ask help to my colleagues very often; opening a bank account, register in the City Hall, look for a doctor, I could do nothing without help. You can feel a bit apart but it's a nice challenge.

I chose to study abroad in France specifically for the opportunity to improve my french language skills. Otherwise, in every other case I would have chosen Spain!

Thanks to a social club which put us in touch with local families and helped us in conversation, I was able to improve in addition to the DEFLE classes

The more you try to speak it, even if you make mistakes, you gain cfonfidence rapidly, so the learning curve gets steeper and steeper.

I have found that unless you really amke an effort to speak french socially you won't progress as far.