Studying Abroad - Canada or France?
Discussion
So, as part of my Business degree i've been given the opportunity to study the 2nd year of the course abroad.
I've been given the choice of a Business School in Rennes, France or Newfoundland, Canada!
Both are prestigious Universities with a high value attached, I'm just torn with which one to go..
France is obviously closer to the UK and straight forward to move due to the lack of Visa requirement. I can speak French at a conversational level so shouldn't be any issues there. I am familiar with the relaxed French life, so maybe something different is in order?..
Canada is all totally new to me, i've had a browse online as to the way of life/climate and it all seems similar to the UK. - Any PH'ers that live/have lived in Canada? - how cheap is it to live?
Thoughts welcome!
I've been given the choice of a Business School in Rennes, France or Newfoundland, Canada!
Both are prestigious Universities with a high value attached, I'm just torn with which one to go..
France is obviously closer to the UK and straight forward to move due to the lack of Visa requirement. I can speak French at a conversational level so shouldn't be any issues there. I am familiar with the relaxed French life, so maybe something different is in order?..
Canada is all totally new to me, i've had a browse online as to the way of life/climate and it all seems similar to the UK. - Any PH'ers that live/have lived in Canada? - how cheap is it to live?
Thoughts welcome!
Edited by kxaddict on Tuesday 10th March 20:43
France. Get fluent.
You wouldn't believe the number of jobs that ask for fluency in another language. No-one asks for conversational.
I did A-level French then thought as I'd like a new challenge, I'd do Erasmus in Italy. While I had a wicked time, I am now only passable in two languages. If I carried on with the French, I would have a skill that employers genuinely want, not two half-skills they don't.
Make sure you make a real effort to become fluent as well. Go to all the language lessons. Join some clubs. Don't move in with all the other foreigners. Find a flat full of Frenchies. Socialise with the Frenchies. Sex some Frenchies. Do not fall in to the trap of learning French off your German room mate, and feel all good about yourself 'cos you're nearly as good as him.
I may come across as a little angry in this post, but I can assure you it's only bitterness at all the opportunities I've missed.
HTH
You wouldn't believe the number of jobs that ask for fluency in another language. No-one asks for conversational.
I did A-level French then thought as I'd like a new challenge, I'd do Erasmus in Italy. While I had a wicked time, I am now only passable in two languages. If I carried on with the French, I would have a skill that employers genuinely want, not two half-skills they don't.
Make sure you make a real effort to become fluent as well. Go to all the language lessons. Join some clubs. Don't move in with all the other foreigners. Find a flat full of Frenchies. Socialise with the Frenchies. Sex some Frenchies. Do not fall in to the trap of learning French off your German room mate, and feel all good about yourself 'cos you're nearly as good as him.
I may come across as a little angry in this post, but I can assure you it's only bitterness at all the opportunities I've missed.
HTH
Jasandjules said:
Go to Canada.
With a British Accent you will have a good time......
With a British Accent you will have a good time......
I've heard this a couple of times now!
Newfoundland is Irish based? The Uni is in St.Johns (?)..does look a long way from anything! - the most easterly point in the whole of US/Canada.
I'm currently doing French as part of the degree, so only improving - nothing like living there for a long period of time though!
Edited by kxaddict on Tuesday 10th March 23:29
.One of my sons is currently in France with the Erasmus program, studying at a University. Back here for his final year next autumn.
The lack of organisation and casual approach was staggering. We went over several times trying to set it up. We came so close to abandoning the placement. We decided that if the problems hadn’t resolved by the end of that day, we would. At that point we had a lucky break and it panned out ok.
Here the Uni gets involved in finding and vetting housing. Not so in France. The system is that all the students turn up on first day of term with all their kit in a rucksack. They find a hostel and start flat hunting. This is fiercely competitive and if you don’t speak the language as well as they do, you are likely to lose out. The whole thing is chaos.
He ended up sharing with a French lad who had already found a flat. The guy’s father was insisting he took an English roommate so he could improve his English. The lucky break was hearing about it by word of mouth. The father had phoned the University and ‘leaned’ on them to come up with an English flatmate for his son. The father carries serious political clout in the French and European governments. Without this, the Uni would have just ignored the demand.
So they help each other’s language skills and it worked out. Their courses (Politics and Economics) are related, so that helps too.
My son got a part time job teaching English to French businessmen. He works for a company that provides course tailored to teach the language needed for specialised areas of business. This is currently providing about £34K PA pro rata. He’s staying out there for summer to top up his funds as student jobs here have become hard to find.
If you have an existing relationship, this might not survive.
He had a girlfriend when he went out there. The relationship hasn’t survived. She found out he had been seeing a French student. He asked for offences with a Greek, two Yanks and another French girl to be taken into consideration. His girlfriend wasn’t that understanding.
The lack of organisation and casual approach was staggering. We went over several times trying to set it up. We came so close to abandoning the placement. We decided that if the problems hadn’t resolved by the end of that day, we would. At that point we had a lucky break and it panned out ok.
Here the Uni gets involved in finding and vetting housing. Not so in France. The system is that all the students turn up on first day of term with all their kit in a rucksack. They find a hostel and start flat hunting. This is fiercely competitive and if you don’t speak the language as well as they do, you are likely to lose out. The whole thing is chaos.
He ended up sharing with a French lad who had already found a flat. The guy’s father was insisting he took an English roommate so he could improve his English. The lucky break was hearing about it by word of mouth. The father had phoned the University and ‘leaned’ on them to come up with an English flatmate for his son. The father carries serious political clout in the French and European governments. Without this, the Uni would have just ignored the demand.
So they help each other’s language skills and it worked out. Their courses (Politics and Economics) are related, so that helps too.
My son got a part time job teaching English to French businessmen. He works for a company that provides course tailored to teach the language needed for specialised areas of business. This is currently providing about £34K PA pro rata. He’s staying out there for summer to top up his funds as student jobs here have become hard to find.
If you have an existing relationship, this might not survive.
He had a girlfriend when he went out there. The relationship hasn’t survived. She found out he had been seeing a French student. He asked for offences with a Greek, two Yanks and another French girl to be taken into consideration. His girlfriend wasn’t that understanding.
Im doing the same thing as you, first year Business degree. I'm doing study abroad for the 09-10 school year - I have secured my place at the University of Hong Kong.
I didnt choose a European Uni because im crap with languages, but there is a European scheme to encourage studying for a year elsewhere in Europe by paying your fees and expenses, I think its called Erasmus, worth looking into if you choose France.
I didnt choose a European Uni because im crap with languages, but there is a European scheme to encourage studying for a year elsewhere in Europe by paying your fees and expenses, I think its called Erasmus, worth looking into if you choose France.
Places like Canada are high on the list of people who want to emigrate from the UK. Generally speaking if you have studied in the country your application can be considered more favourable (although for Australia I think that it was a Bachelor's degree rather than a post-graduate degree that best tipped the scales). This might be something to think about.
In contrast, you "should" always be able to work in France due to the EU agreement.
However, don't underestimate the power of being able to speak another language with a level of "good" understanding. Doors will fly open for you in any career if you can speak more than just English.
In contrast, you "should" always be able to work in France due to the EU agreement.
However, don't underestimate the power of being able to speak another language with a level of "good" understanding. Doors will fly open for you in any career if you can speak more than just English.
Edited by Buffalo on Wednesday 11th March 01:08
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