My time in France has allowed me to develop in so many ways, a
nd I want to thank the John Speak Foundation bursary for playing a huge role in keeping me on top of my language-learning whilst studying my Master’s. The monthly blogs have kept me focused and allowed me to build my written language skills, especially when it came to expanding my vocabulary and being able to articulate my views on the key issues of our time in French.
My check-ins with the Trustees allowed me to review areas for development and encouraged me to embed French into my extra-curricular activities. One of the highlights of my year was taking an architecture course in French which opened me up to a whole different range of arts-based vocabulary and gave me a weekly group immersion experience over the last 6 months.
I have been based in Paris since last August and living with a French room-mate (or “coloc” as we call it here in France!).
As one of the key criteria of the scholarship is to cohabit with a native speakers, I can attest to how valuable it has been to have French embedded in my daily routine at home.
This has really supported my everyday use of the language and my room-mate has been an excellent support when I have had questions about specific vocabulary or grammar. During this period, I am also fortunate enough to have worked in two French-speaking offices, which has really allowed me to understand how the language is used in professional settings.
I have also been lucky enough to visit several other French-speaking cities over the last 11 months; this included Bordeaux, Toulouse and Geneva. It was important for me to experience different areas and visit regions where English is not commonly spoken. All three visits gave me a unique experience of French culture and exposed me to a range of accents which really tested my listening skills and adaptability beyond the more neutral Parisian accent with which I had become f
amiliar.
In August 2023, I arrived in France having studied formally up to level B1 level in the language. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages described this level of ability as being able “to maintain interaction and get across what you want to.” I am pleased to share that following my final assessments in my French language class, I am now studying at the more advanced C1 level which means I am an independent language-user and can express with a good level of fluency and spontaneity.
In conclusion, my time in France, supported by the John Speak Foundation bursary, has been incredibly important to the development of my French language skills.
The combination of academic study, practical application, and cultural immersion has given me the confidence to continue to pursue French at a high level in the coming years and use the language in a professional capacity. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing my French linguistic and cultural journey for years to come.