Hi, this is Jasmin again! As mentioned in my last article I have just started my internship at the French Language School ILA, so I moved to Montpellier for 5 months. Full of anticipation to an exciting time and a summer in the sun, I arrived not knowing anybody in Montpellier. After having settled in a bit, the next step for me is to make friends … but how to do so in a foreign country?
A good way is, of course, to find a nice place to stay. In order to get easier connected with people I looked for a flat share. Since a large proportion of the population in Montpellier is students, there is really a very large choice. Furnished flats are easy to find, especially during the summer holidays, as many students travel over the summer and they sub rent their homes then. I tried prior to my arrival to visit famous sites like www.leboncoin.fr, www.lacartedescolocs.fr and www.appartager.fr to find a nice flat.
But for many French students it is of great importance to meet their future roommates in person, so I recommend to search locally in Montpellier for a flat share. Admittedly, I did not feel well to move to Montpellier without having secured my accommodation, but finding on the spot has really proven to be much easier. Appointments here are often agreed spontaneously and you can see whether you get on with the room mates. So I found a very nice flatshare, made friends with the other people in the home and they already introduced me to more people and gave me many insider tips for Montpellier.
The French Immersion School ILA offers for its students for the language trips to France, accommodation with French-speaking host families. Due to many student exchanges, which I made during my school days, I personally feel that this is the perfect opportunity to both socialize and learn French and helps get a direct insight on French culture. But even if you are accommodated during the language trip to France in residences, of course, the opportunity to make many international friends with students from around the world is also pleasant.
Regardless of the accommodation option, there are still many other ways to make new contacts! During your French immersion program in Montpellier, you will meet many students from around the world. In addition, ILA French language school also offers many extracurricular activities. This is a great opportunity, not only to discover French culture and the beautiful sites close to Montpellier, but you also meet many like-minded people. Whether it’s during the historic city tour, the picnic by the river, the wine-tasting or a trip to the mountains or the seaside: New international contacts during your French language immersion program in Montpellier are easily made.
Another great opportunity to meet people and to learn French outside of class are the ILA language exchange evenings. ILA organizes regular meetings for its international students with local French students, at a bar in Montpellier – to promote language and intercultural understanding. The idea is to exchange eight minutes in German or English or Spanish, and then the next 8 minutes in French before you get assigned to a new table and in the next round you get to know new French people. I took part of this evening in the first week of French classes, a great experience. Once there, I was kindly greeted, got directly allocated a table and allowed to choose a drink included in my 5 € entry fee. That night, 50 participants were there, the organization went smoothly and I met a lot to new people, with whom I am still in contact today. Often ILA language learners ask me whether it is possible to participate without being fluent in French: Yes, that is definitely possible! All the people I met at these language exchanges were very open, understanding and helpful people. These evenings are a great initiative of ILA – you learn French outside your French course and you meet many, like minded French people!
In addition to the already mentioned possibilities, there are of course many more options to help meet new friends during your language immersion program in Montpellier, such as participating in team sports, or getting a membership in a music school etc. The ILA Montpellier manual that you get at the beginning of your French immersion program is full of useful information and tips for your language stay in Montpellier.
So you see, even if you join us alone for your French language course at ILA in Montpellier, new contacts and new friends can be found here very easily!
it’s great that you all read my articles, stay connected with the ILA blog, I am already writing the next post!
Yours Jasmin