Author Post Archive

Posts by Guest blog

I can now say that I have friends from all over the world

Post by Matthew Watts So, my time in France is nearly over! These last seven months have really flown by and I can’t believe I only have six months left before I’ll be back in Nottingham to do my final year of university. I have enjoyed the assistantship and have enjoyed teaching English, even though …

My year abroad would not have been anywhere near as enjoyable without them

I can’t believe that I have now finished my teaching placement, these last 7 months have absolutely whizzed by. I have definitely made many connections here in France my only regret being that more of them weren’t with French people! I really hope to stay in touch with the people I’ve met whilst being out …

I now see getting around via the Metro as a normal thing I could do with my eyes closed…

I’ve made many connections during my Parisian year abroad thus far, mostly due to language. Because of the multicultural aspect of my new internship with a translation firm, I finally feel myself becoming more proficient in the everyday, informal bits of French. Especially now that I chat daily, in French, with the interns from our …

no comments

We’re all able to make connections despite our cultural differences

Studying two languages requires you to make a lot of different connections, both in terms of travelling by plane to different countries and by constantly meeting new people but also by changing environment and trying to communicate in different languages. If you are able to hold even a simple conversation in Brazil, people are often …

no comments

I’ve suddenly developed a new case of FOMO

As I am approaching the end of my year abroad with only a bit less than two months to go I’ve suddenly developed a new case of FOMO (fear of missing out) which is strange to say as I’ve never experienced it before. All of a sudden I want to do everything, be everywhere at the same time. …

no comments

I really should be making the most of this year

This blog is not about “making connections” in the sense of meeting people or networking, instead I have decided to write about a few things I have discovered about myself during my time abroad as I have seen some important connections between my lifestyle and my mood and general state of mind. Firstly, having worked …

no comments

Making all sort of connections in France

So I’ll start with the connections I’ve made in terms of friendships with my fellow English speakers. Before I arrived in Montpellier I had the intention of only becoming friends with French people to really emerge myself into the language. However that didn’t really go to plan. When I met the other assistants, I really …

no comments

Religious diversity in my French village…a topic of conversation or not?

Just before returning to Spain after the Christmas holidays, a friend of mine told me that when I went back it would be a completely different experience to my first few months there. I didn’t believe her at the time, but it turned out to be completely true! Phrases or cultural quirks I had been …

no comments

Older students will sometimes treat you more as a friend than teacher

I sat today and listened to two presentations held in English in front of a class and (whether it was visible, I don’t know) I felt myself beam with pride. They’ve come so far since I first met them, and I will always feel glad that I played a part in their journey. Indeed, for …

no comments

I now feel a strong connection with France

Growing up, I moved around a lot. As I had lived in different places and had attended several different schools, I thought settling into France would be easy. I was wrong. Settling in to a new country where another language is spoken is completely different! Getting back on the plane after spending a lovely two …

no comments