<p>Hi everyone.</p>
<p>I've made the decision to study abroad in France next year, but now I just don't know how long I should stay. I feel that my French would improve tremendously if I went for an entire year, and though a semester will help too, I'm worried that I won't fully get into the French swing of things, so to say.</p>
<p>I could definitely afford to pay for a semester, but I'd have to get some more scholarships for a full year and maybe take out student loans. (Trying to avoid those the best that I can) I'm a French major, but it's my secondary major, so I'm worried about getting behind in my primary major by taking a whole year off from it. (Even though I'd get ahead with my French major, obviously.)</p>
<p>What has everyone else done with their experiences? Does the full year really make the difference? Is it worth emptying your bank account for?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>How about doing the second semester (January - June) studying abroad, and then spend the summer travelling around France? </p>
<p>It sounds like most of the cost would come from the formal studying abroad, and there are some very cheap ways of travelling around France (and Europe, more widely) whilst improving your French. </p>
<p>For travel, you could buy an InterRail pass [Travel</a> Europe with an InterRail Pass | InterRail.eu](<a href=“http://www.interrail.eu/]Travel”>http://www.interrail.eu/)
Then you could support yourself in terms of bed and board by doing homestays, and working for bed and board (please do double check the visa situation for Americans in France; I’m not entirely au fait with them as I have an EU passport). There are various websites where you can find such homestays, including
[Workaway.info</a> the site for free work exchange. Gap year volunteer for food and accommodation whilst travelling abroad.](<a href=“http://www.workaway.info%5DWorkaway.info”>http://www.workaway.info)
[Help</a> Exchange: free volunteer work exchange abroad Australia New Zealand Canada Europe](<a href=“http://www.helpx.net%5DHelp”>http://www.helpx.net)
WWOOF
You will find that some are French people who only speak French, some are French people who speak a little English (though the French are notorious for hating the language of les rosbifs and their language) and some British expats who barely speak English (who, from a language learning point of view, you should avoid at all costs!)</p>
<p>You could also try couchsurfing for other accommodation inbetween any homestays, and / or backpackers hostels. </p>
<p>All in all if you make it your challenge to (a) spend as little money as possible, and (b) spend your time building on the formal lessons that you had on the study abroad programme by making sure that you avoid other English speakers like the plague, then I’m willing to bet that you will get all the benefit of a second semester studying abroad for very minimal costs.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your post!! That’s really helpful. I will definitely look into all of that!</p>
<p>A year! Do a year!</p>
<p>Hope my post doesn’t reach you too late. I spent a year abroad - and it it much, much different from spending a semester.</p>
<p>If I thing now about how much less I would have learned studying abroad for a semester and not a year - it’s a big difference.</p>
<p>Do it! You’re French will come in handy - you’ll see. And there is a big difference between “semester-French” and “academic-year” French. I spent for months in France - my French stinks (though it sounds good to people who don’t speak French).</p>
<p>I spent 2 semesters in Spain - and my Spanish is awesome.</p>
<p>How to describe it - the more time you spend learning a language abroad - you end up learning incrementally faster. It’s a huge difference, and it’s a great time! </p>
<p>Spend a year!</p>