Year abroad for MFL - work or university?

[Sofasurfing]

Does anyone have DC doing MFL who would be able to advise? Many unis give the option of spending your third year abroad either working or attending a partner university in the country/countries concerned. Which is preferable do you think? I'd have thought work experience rather than uni study but that's just my gut instinct.

True Tizororfizz. Value derived from where one studies, what one studies and so on is only as useful as how well an individual imparts their knowledge and experience to a future employer, higher Ed institution, their kids’ development etc.

There’s no one way fits all, which is good.

@ealingwestmum
In the case of DDs MFLs, never! Never used them when working. Transferable skills however - different matter. Which is why the year abroad is so useful. Self sufficiency, sorting out where you are living, getting to grips with university or work, absorbing the culture, travel, making friends, pushing yourself to learn something new are just a few benefits. At an interview DD was asked which achievement made her proud of herself - she said organising her year abroad and dealing with the challenges it brought . It’s a fantastic learning experience in so many ways. It always shows you are capable.

Can they work in Quebec?

@ReddyBrekk the UK has a Youth Mobility reciprocal Visa arrangement with Canada for 18-30 year olds so probably yes.... www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/eligibility.html?selection=gb-wh#selection

I spent a term at a French Uni but only met 1 other English student so spent a lot of time in seedy night clubs and cafes. Much better for my language skills than friends who got a flat together and rarely spoke any French at all.

I then decided that for the next year I would chose a small town/village to work as a language assistant so I wouldn't be able to just tag along with other English students.

The first few weeks/months abroad can be brutal - culture shock and loneliness. The temptation is to seek out other English students out of desperation. It is a test of resilience and adaptability. Fortunately in French Secondary Schools there are surveillants ( pions) who earn a small wage looking after students who board etc. and I was able to latch on to them.

If you make it to Christmas without giving in, then after that it's much better. Most of us would not have returned to the UK had it not been for exams. ( indeed some did return to France immediately after exams etc.)

Incidentally I know of people who have used their language skills working for Face Book, TicTok etc or in Law firms/Chambers etc but your language has to be v good. It's not just your language skills but your knowledge of the way of life etc which is valuable. It must be much more difficult to get that sort of in depth knowledge if you are doing a joint honours degree with 2 languages (or more) so perforce only having half the time for each.

2 MFLs is more work. Students juggle their time and DD was as used to do 2 to demonstrate being able to multi task! They do fewer options but to the same depth. Language acquisition is expected to be the same.

A friend of mine who studied French went to Quebec and was a teaching assistant in a school, day to day life was entirely through French.