year abroad

[svalencia]

our son is at university in Uk but is wondering if he could do a year as a language assistant through the british council at the end of his 2nd year. He is not on a language course and so there is no formal arrangement for a year abroad. Would a university encourage this and allow him to return for his final year, or would it be considered irrelevant and frowned upon? Obviously he will go and talk to his tutor at the start of term but just wondered if anybody had a similar experience with their children?

Of course, I'm being daft.
I was forgetting how much had changed since fees were introduced. I'm not in the UK (not that that is an excuse) and here our students just apply for an exchange the year before they choose to go.
There is also an internship element to Erasmus now, but that would probably only work in holidays, not as a full year off.

He is thinking through things at present and will be talking to his tutor. It is interesting that things differ at different universities, at our older children's universities it was similar to Auld alliance, whatever your original course choice, decisions about a year abroad or in work were only made once you were in your second year.

Funnily enough, it has not all been plain sailing in my daughter's case, as though theoretically, students at her university are given the option to choose at the beginning of their second year whether they want to opt for a year of study abroad/in industry/on work experience for their third year, the administrator involved has kept putting spanners in her works, whilst the director of her degree course is helpful and positive. The latest this week is that the tutor in charge of the admin hadn't registered my daughter as being on a year's work experience and wants to charge us for a full year's tuition fees, despite the fact of my daughter already being in her second month of internship with an international organisation! Oh, how we larffed! With any luck, this will be sorted before term starts!

I know italian schools offer through the European union the chance for students to come for a year to teach English, the contract is directly with the school. Maybe something like that exists for France too

that's interesting to know Amalfimamma. Tuktuk-hope it's sorted soon!

Can't advise on the view of the university but DS did a multiple language degree and was already fluent in one having lived in the country. He did his year abroad in France as a language assistant through the British Council to improve one of the other languages. He enjoyed the experience despite landing up in the middle of nowhere. He worked in a state boarding school. He also did an internship to support his third language through Erasmus for 3 months in the break between his 3rd and 4th year. In his cohort I don't think there was any shortage of places overall so it probably depends on the year and with the decline of participation in MFL degrees it maybe easier to get a space than in the past. The British Council always advise that you may not get the location of your choice and obviously Paris is the most popular and expensive so would be the least likely place to apply for if you want to improve your chances of getting accepted, especially as a non MFL student. Hope your DS is able to sort something out with the university as it was definitely a positive experience. DS always though he would do another year for BC before he started work but he is now in a long term relationship with the girl he met in France so I don't think that would go down well!

The op said her DS was not interested in France up thread.

thanks fussychica, sounds like a similar background! Our son is looking at options and talking to his tutor, so we'll see what the outcome is. Your son has obviously done really well and his French should be perfect very soon!!

just to update, our son has had lots of talks and interviews at his university, all the staff were very helpful and keen to talk things through with him. They were very generous with their time and gave him all sorts of options.
If anybody has a child is in a similar position, get them to go and talk to their tutor, there was a lot of support and advice and options available to him. It would not have been a problem if he had taken a year abroad, or just a year out , the university would have welcomed him back to his course the following year. In fact, after much thought (and an inpromptu interview)he has decided to continue his studies but has changed to an entirely new course at the same university to what is hopefully a better choice for him.
Thanks for all the helpful advice.