French immersion into French language

Fabians host family stay

"When I travelled to Montpellier I was a bit nervous about my home stay. I booked a 10 weeks course at ILA with a stay at a host family. When I arrived at Montpellier's train station my host family was already there, holding a sign from ILA with my name. I was very pleased that the pick up run smoothly and, even more important, that I was greeted with a big smile.

They introduced them as Magalie and Gilbert and talked straight away in French to me. The first minutes were a bit difficult since I did not really practise my French recently, but they spoke slowly and clearly to me, so I understood already quite well.

We drove to their house, situated in a very nice neighbourhood of Montpellier. I was impressed by the nice garden, where they often have barbeques. I was really pleased, a very good location, a quite area and a very beautiful garden, AND very, very nice and friendly host parents. The perfect place to spend a great time, to study and to enjoy.

Magalie and Gilbert introduced me to Daniela, an ILA student from Colombia, who arrived several weeks ago. I really wished that there would be another ILA student with a different mother tongue in the same host family and the ILA accommodation department could organise this.

My host parents showed me my room, which was very pleasant, very comfortable, clean and with a nice view onto the garden. I even had internet access so I could write to my friends and family that I arrived very well and that my host family is great.

In the late afternoon Magalie and Gilbert prepared an aperitif to welcome me, several delicious local products like Tapenade, Olives etc. and some drinks. Magalie explained me on a map were the ILA school is located, what to see and to do in and around Montpellier. Gilbert knows many places of interests for students: Restaurants, bars, cinemas, cafs etc. No wonder, they welcome ILA students for more than 10 years.

During my stay Magalie and Gilbert spent a lot of time with me and Daniela. We had many interesting discussions in a wide range of topics. In the evening we often played games. This was great fun and I could practise my French a lot.

I went out a lot with Daniela and other friends from ILA. There are students from so many different nationalities at ILA, it was great fun. Montpellier has so much to offer and the weather is nearly always great."