Postcards from Montpellier 2: Just Moved to Montpellier? Here’s How to Meet People

Hi there, and welcome back to Postcards from Montpellier! If you’re new here, then let me just quickly introduce myself…I’m Tallie, a 21-year-old languages student, currently on my year abroad in the sunny south of France. I study French and Spanish at university in the UK, but right now I'm living in Montpellier, interning as a receptionist at Institut Linguistique Adenat (ILA), Wisewards’ partner school in Montpellier.

If you're looking to improve your French while living in a vibrant city that experiences 300 sunny days a year, sign up here! ILA offers a range of excellent French courses that you can explore and book with Wiseward through our website.

This week, I want to talk about how to meet people when you move abroad. It can definitely feel a little overwhelming at first, and even a bit lonely (for me at least). But luckily, Montpellier has made things a bit easier… With over 55,000 students and a population where nearly half are under thirty, the city is full of life and opportunities to connect. Whether you have recently moved to a new city, are preparing to go on your year abroad, or you’re thinking of enrolling here at ILA, Wiseward’s partner school, I hope I can provide some useful advice for anyone who has been through and is still going through this experience (I certainly wish I had had this advice when I first arrived!).

My Experience so far:

I suppose my experience has been a little different from most, as I arrived in the city at the start of June, just as the majority of the students were leaving the city to go home for the summer… Great timing, I know! Still, I was determined not to let that stop me from meeting people here! I’ll admit, during that first week, I panicked for a second, as it occurred to me that for the first time, I would have to make more of an effort to meet people my own age. It dawned on me that, up until now, I had always been in environments like school and university, where I was constantly surrounded by other young people who shared similar routines or interests - so, whether I liked it or not, a sense of community was built in. But now, outside of that structure, I was suddenly responsible for creating those connections myself, which was both liberating and unexpectedly challenging.

The Power of Social Media:

Here comes my first piece of advice for anyone trying to make friends abroad: download Facebook. I know, coming from a Gen Z-er (born between 1997 and 2012), that might sound surprising, since it’s not exactly a go-to app. But when I moved to Montpellier, it quickly became my most useful tool for meeting people.

Now, I don’t usually suggest meeting up with total strangers from the internet (and of course, it’s important to be careful), but social media can be incredibly useful, especially when you're settling into a new city or starting a study abroad experience.

I simply searched the words ‘Erasmus Montpellier’ on Facebook, and with one quick search, I found loads of groups of people who were all in the same position as me! For anyone unfamiliar, Erasmus is a European student exchange program, and even if you’re not an Erasmus student yourself, the community is very open, and allows you to meet people from all over the world! Most of the Erasmus Instagram and Facebook pages have links to WhatsApp groups, so I decided to join a few. I honestly can’t recommend these WhatsApp groups enough; they’re constantly updated with all day trips, meetups, and events that are happening in the city every week.

Thanks to one of these groups, I signed up for a tour on my first weekend in Montpellier, allowing me to meet some great people! Yes, I was a little nervous turning up on my own-but I quickly realised that’s completely normal. That’s the whole point of these Erasmus events: they exist to bring people together. Saying yes to that first tour to St-Guilhem-le-Désert was one of the best decisions I made- it helped me meet people and gave me confidence. Even though the girls I met that day left Montpellier a few weeks later, it proved to me that I could make friends- and I’d be able to do it again. So, if you are feeling anxious about meeting people when you move abroad, take this as a sign to get online and join those Erasmus groups- If I can do it, you can too!

Language Exchanges:

Another great way to meet people abroad and practice your languages is by attending language exchange events. These are usually in a bar or a café where people get together to practise the different languages they’re learning over a drink. Not only are language exchanges great for improving your speaking skills, they’re also ideal for socialising and making international friends. One of the most popular language exchanges in Montpellier is held at Café de la Panacée. This event was actually recommended to me by ILA, the language school I am interning at, as they offer it as one of their extracurricular activities. Another popular spot for a language exchange is at the Jost Hotel, near Gare St-Roch. This venue is particularly cool if you are looking for a good rooftop bar, as the terrace offers stunning views of Montpellier, especially at sunset!

Although these events can be a little overwhelming at first- walking into a bar full of strangers speaking different languages- everyone is incredibly friendly and open to chatting. I even found that French people go too, to practise their English, so I felt much more relaxed speaking to a native French speaker knowing that they were in a similar position to me! I particularly remember a conversation with a guy from Normandy (Northern France). We connected over our shared experience of rainy weather… I am embarrassed to admit, that in true British style, I revert to talking about the weather as a default!

Looking back, the conversation must have sounded bizarre to an outsider, because he was speaking to me in English, whilst I responded in French- the definition of a language exchange, if you ask me! I have also had the chance to practice my Spanish, which is a nice surprise, since I’ve been neglecting this language a bit since my arrival in France and although my head was a bit mixed up between the 2 Latin languages, it felt nice to have a break from French! Whether you are studying abroad or just want to improve your French in Montpellier, language exchanges are a great way to meet people and feel more at home here!

Attending Local Events:

My final tip for meeting people and making friends in Montpellier-or in any new city-is to get involved in the local community and take part in local events. Whether it’s heading to Carnon Beach in the evening to join a game of volleyball (I didn’t realise it was so popular here, but the French seem to love it!) or attending one of the many local festivals, it’s a fantastic way to connect with others! One Friday evening, I went to play volleyball at Carnon, with a friend I’d met through Erasmus, and it turned out to be such a social experience. We met lots of new people, both French and international, who let us join in their game-and watching the sunset over the beach made it even more memorable. Even if I probably ended up doing more eating, drinking, and chatting than volleyball playing, it was an enjoyable evening! If volleyball is not your thing, or you’re looking for an activity which is a little more relaxed, attending local events can be a great option! I’ve recently discovered “Les Jeudis Guinguette.” This event is an excellent way to celebrate the summer, held at one of my favourite places: Lac Jean-Marie Rouché (often called Lac du Crès by visitors). There’s live music, food trucks, and a beautiful backdrop of the lakeside at sunset- what more could you ask for? If you find yourself in Montpellier in the coming weeks, come along- this is also a great opportunity to practise your French speaking, even if you just use it to order a beer and a burger!

That’s it for my advice, I hope it’s even a little bit helpful to you! If I were to sum up my points into one, I would say step out of your comfort zone and go to that event. I promise you won’t regret it, because once you have found your people here, everything is so much easier- you will also discover cool new places! Don’t worry if you don’t succeed at first, every experience is different but just be proud that you put yourself out there! I am certainly still finding my way in Montpellier, so if anyone has any advice or suggestions for me, I would love to hear from you about your experience meeting people in Montpellier, or even just in your year abroad!

If you are interested in improving your French and meeting some amazing people, Wiseword is an excellent place to start! We offer a wide range of French courses at ILA in Montpellier: such as French and Cooking, teacher training for French teachers or the Standard French Course which are perfect for all levels of French.

Until the next postcard,

À tout!
Tallie 💌