How can you make your time abroad a successful experience on site and beneficial for your future? We asked students who have already been abroad and teachers to give you their advice. Let’s go!
Before leaving
What will the classes be like? Before you leave, find out about the content and organization of the classes you will be taking. ” A title that seems nice at first glance can actually turn out to be a disappointing course. But if you choose a subject, it’s for the entire semester ,” insists Emmanuelle, who spent 2 years in Sheffield, England, and 1 semester in New York. Other things to check: the prerequisites requested by the teachers, the assessment method (MCQ, report to be submitted, oral presentation, etc.) and teaching method (discussion, lecture, etc.), so as not to be too destabilized. 2. Get in touch with your future class Thanks to the Internet and social networks, you can get in touch with the students who will be in class with you. Like Damien, who, before leaving for Berkeley, joined a Facebook group created by a Thai student from his future class. ” We were able to exchange lots of information about courses, accommodation, mobile phone plans, bank accounts abroad, and start to get to know each other ,” he says. It’s more reassuring! 3. Choose a roof Campus, shared accommodation, private apartment, room in a private home: the possibilities for accommodation are numerous and varied. Choose the option that suits you best, depending on whether you prefer peace and quiet, proximity to the city centre or the excitement of the campus. Here too, take a look at the forums and ask for advice from students who already live there!
On site
Make yourself known to teachers In many countries, especially English-speaking countries, teachers are more accessible than in France. Take advantage of this to go and see them, ask them questions, and continue a topic covered in class. ” It wasn’t uncommon for a teacher to suggest going for a coffee or lunch ,” recalls Emmanuelle. ” It’s in our best interest to take advantage of these special moments to explain our motivations, our aspirations and also our difficulties. ” 5. You have the floor! While France is the champion of lectures, this is not necessarily the case everywhere. In English-speaking or Scandinavian countries, classes mainly consist of a discussion or debate. An approach that surprised Marie when she went to study in Norway: ” The teacher didn’t intervene much and let the students talk. There was also a lot of freedom in the files we had to hand in. So you might as well prepare yourself to have the spirit of initiative, inventiveness, creativity… ” 6. Keep a journal Go shopping at the market, walk around the business district, read the local newspaper: any opportunity is good to learn about a different culture and society, including outside of class. Serge Guarino, director of international programs at the ICD, recommends that his students keep a logbook: “ note down what you observe, the practices that are different from where you live, it’s all about being curious! ” 7. Broaden your horizons Many foreign universities organize conferences and meetings with professionals at lunchtime or in the evening. This can be an opportunity to discover other aspects of the country and culture in which you live. For example, Emmanuelle remembers going to Columbia to listen to Supreme Court judges and prestigious law experts. A way to enrich your personal culture, and who knows, perhaps your network! Participate in sports and cultural associations A good way to successfully integrate is to participate in campus activities. Between sports, culture, science, parties: there is usually plenty to choose from! But you don’t have to limit yourself to the university. Donatienne, who spent a year at the University of Notre Dame in the USA, chose to give tutoring lessons in a disadvantaged neighborhood in the city center. ” I encountered a reality there that was very different from the one I saw at the university ,” she says.
Back in France
Take stock Once you return to France, everyday life will quickly catch up with you. But once you have told your family and friends about your stay 10 times, you will want to move on! In order to make this experience profitable and to remember the essentials, force yourself to take a few hours to take stock of everything you experienced, learned, liked or not. This will then be useful to you in a job interview for example. 10. Cultivate your network With the Internet and social networks, nothing is easier than keeping in touch with all the people you met there. Facebook for friends, Linkedin or Viadeo for professional contacts or teachers… It is not impossible that this will be useful to you one day, in the context of your future career or for trips abroad!
