Postcards from Montpellier 8: Saying au revoir to Montpellier- Reflections on my Internship and 5 Months in France

Hi everyone and welcome back, for the last time, to Postcards from Montpellier! My name is Tallie, a passionate linguist from the UK studying French and Spanish at university. I am currently on my year abroad and have been living in Montpellier for the last 5 months.

Throughout this series, I’ve been giving you a glimpse into my life here and sharing a behind-the-scenes look at my internship with Wiseward’s partner school, Institut Linguistique Adenet. I’ve also been documenting the highs and lows of my year abroad, experiences I hope have been at least a little helpful to anyone finding themselves in a similar situation.

At Wiseward, we’re all about helping students make the most of their language learning adventures abroad. And while I’ve experienced things from a slightly different perspective as an intern, I’m still on my own French-learning journey, so I hope some of you can relate.

As my time in Montpellier draws to a close, I’d love to take a moment to look back on the past five months — the funny moments, the challenging ones, and perhaps share a few words of advice for anyone about to embark on their own language-learning adventure.

A reflection on my time in Montpellier

It’s hard to believe that five months have already flown by - yet when I think back to that Saturday evening in June, when I first arrived, it honestly feels like a lifetime ago. Looking back on that first week now feels surreal; everything that once felt so new and unfamiliar has somehow become part of my everyday routine.

It took me a little while to get my bearings in Montpellier, especially with the trams — I went the wrong way more than once (turns out Google Maps isn’t quite the tram expert it claims to be). But after a few weeks, I started to find my feet. Now the city feels much smaller and more familiar; you can walk almost anywhere in the centre, which I’ve really come to love. There’s something comforting about knowing your way around — and living right in the heart of the city has been a huge bonus too!

As I spoke about in my last blog, I have loved living with my host family whilst being here in Montpellier. I feel so at home there now and I am really going to miss chatting to my host “mum” in the evenings after getting home from work.

When I reflect on my time with a host family there is one story that stands out among the others… It is one of my funniest memories and it actually happened on my second day here in France. It was a beautiful summer’s day, so my host “mum” suggested a trip to the beach. I was all for it - after leaving a rainy UK, my body was more than ready for some sunshine!

We spent a lovely few hours soaking up the sun and swimming in the sea, before wandering through Aigues-Mortes, a beautiful medieval town nearby. By the time we got home, it was late, and I couldn’t wait to wash off all the sea salt and suncream from the day.

That’s when things took a turn. As we pulled up to the house, my host mum realised she’d lost the house keys. Since I hadn’t been given my own set yet, we were officially locked out. After an increasingly desperate car search and discovering that the neighbour with the spare wasn’t home, my host mum - dressed in a beach dress and wedge heels - announced that she was going to climb the drainpipe up to my open balcony window! At this point, a small crowd from the nearby bars had gathered, and we all agreed this probably wasn’t the best idea.

In the end, a girl who had been at the bar below said she would borrow a ladder and climb up the drainpipe onto the balcony to open the door from the inside. Miraculously, it worked! The keys never did turn up (they’re probably still lying on the sand at Petit-Travers beach), but the memory always makes me laugh. It was definitely a sign that my year abroad was going to be anything but boring!

I’ve made some amazing memories and met so many great people over the past few months- Erasmus Life Montpellier, I can’t thank you enough! Living abroad and learning a language at the same time is such a unique and rewarding experience, and I’d definitely recommend checking out the courses Wiseward has to offer. You’ll improve your language skills while discovering so many new things along the way! This experience has really boosted my confidence and reminded me how valuable it is to step outside your comfort zone - and now not only has my French improved, but I also I have friends all over the world!

My Language-Learning Journey

When I first started my year abroad, my main goal was to become fluent. But over the past few months, I’ve been asking myself: what does it really mean to be fluent? So often, we focus on “mastering” a language. The first question people ask when I say I’m studying French and Spanish is always, “Are you fluent yet?”. I suppose the word “fluent” is usually associated with speaking like a native. However, comparing myself to native speakers only makes me feel self-conscious - it’s their mother tongue, so they will always know more words, phrases, and have a perfect accent.

Once I realised this, I stopped comparing myself and just focused on improving as much as I could. Progress is gradual, so it’s hard to notice day-to-day, but looking back at my first weeks in Montpellier, the difference is clear. Even simple words like “printer” and “stapler” were foreign to me, and I felt much shyer, especially at work. It’s amazing how much you pick up without realising - sometimes I even surprise myself by saying something I didn’t know I could! Being surrounded by French speakers really is the best way to learn. I’m now much more comfortable speaking, and while I still occasionally struggle with a word or phrase, it’s all about finding ways to navigate these moments.

Something that has also helped me is Quizlet! Each tile I learn a knew word, I write it down in my vocabulary list. This list has evidently been getting longer and longer over the months and it makes me laugh when I look at it as the words are all so random! I strongly recommend doing the same: it’s easy to forget words as soon as you hear them, but with consistent practice, your vocabulary expands quickly.

A Reflection on my Internship with ILA

As my internship comes to an end, I’d like to reflect on everything I’ve learned and experienced with ILA over the past few months

Whether it is helping the students with any problems they encounter during their stay, preparing and helping with extra-curricular activities-like a trip to the aquarium with one of our Swiss groups - or even decorating the school for Halloween, I feel so apart of the community here!

The ILA team are so friendly they have all been so welcoming towards me during my internship. I have also enjoyed getting to know all of the teachers, even those who were just here for the summer season. Being part of the ILA is something I am so grateful for and I am going to miss everyone! I feel very lucky to have been able to have the experience to work in France and improve my French speaking. I have also learnt so many transferable skills to take with me when I leave.

I couldn’t recommend ILA more if you’re interested in taking a French course in France. Not only is it located in the heart of the vibrant city of Montpellier, but it also offers a wide range of courses to help take your French to the next level! Working at the reception has given me a behind-the-scenes look at the school, and it’s such a pleasure to be part of a positive environment where everyone shares a love of the French language. Book your French course now through Wiseward!

Merci, mille fois, ILA!

Why should you study French in Montpellier?

Still not convinced to study French in Montpellier? Here’s a list of reasons that might just change your mind…

1. FREE Tram- the best way to get around the city and it is absolutely free! The Montpellier Zoo is also free if you are looking for an affordable activity to do after class or on the weekend!

2. ERASMUS- the Erasmus community here is so special and it has definitely made my experience that little bit better. I met so many incredible people through Erasmus events. They offer all kinds activities: from trips, to nights out to city tours, all affordable student prices!

3. Size- Montpellier is the perfect size city, big enough to offer vibrant culture, nightlife, and opportunities, yet compact enough to feel welcoming and easy to navigate.

4. Sun and Sea - Bathed in sunshine and only a short ride from the Mediterranean coast, Montpellier offers the perfect mix of city life and seaside relaxation.

5. ILA- Only in Montpellier: Institut Linguistique Adenet provides the perfect chance to study French in France.

Goodbye!

I’ve really enjoyed writing this series over the past few months, and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Postcards from Montpellier as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it! Creating these blogs has made me appreciate this experience even more, as it’s given me a chance to reflect on my French adventure.

Whether it’s inspired you to book a Wiseward language course or simply encouraged you to plan your next holiday, I hope it’s helped in one way or another. These months in Montpellier have definitely been special, and I already know I’ll look back fondly on all the memories I’ve made here.

It’ll be sad to leave Montpellier, but I’m sure I’ll be back one day!

Goodbye for now, and thank you for reading and joining me on this journey.

Au revoir!
Tallie💌