1. Where can a language A level
take you?
Throughout my A levels I was constantly being asked the same irritating questions;
- ''but what will you do with a French A level?''
- '' what kind of job can you get with that?''
.... and the worst of all evils (and unfortunately, the most frequent);
- ''what's the point of learning another language? Everybody speaks English.''
At the time, I had no idea how to answer these questions. I had no idea what I
would do with my French A Level, just like, later on, I had no idea what I would do with
my French degree. And, you know what? I still have no idea. And that's what's so exciting
about having languages on your side. The opportunities are endless... you will never be
stuck for something to do, you will never be stuck doing something boring and repetitive..
Your life will become a huge adventure and who knows where it will lead you.
Don't believe me?I'm going to take you on a little journey of where my language A level has
taken me so far, in the few short years since I left Netherthorpe.
2. After 6th form I began a four year French Studies BA at the University of
Nottingham, where I graduated in 2012.
3. As part of my four year degree, the third year was an obligatory 'year abroad'. I had to
spend this time in a Francophone country either working or studying. This doesn't mean
that I had to go to France.... there were several other options,
some of them a lot more exotic than others, such as;
Belgium
Switzerland,
West Africa,
La Réunion (near Mauritius)
Quebec, Canada
French Polynesia (where Tahiti and Bora Bora are)
Several Caribbean islands such as Guadeloupe and Martinique
So, if you fancy a year practicing your French under a blazing sun, or whilst trying your hand at some
winter sports, then a French degree may be for you.....
or
????
4. I chose to go to Belgium for a year, where I taught English in a primary school. The school
was in a small village around 15 minutes from Liege city centre, where I chose to live.
It was an incredible year. Besides improving my French and getting some useful work experience,
it was a great year full of waffles, beer and travel.
5. Belgium is a tiny country in the centre of Europe, it is therefore very quick, easy and cheap to
travel, either to Belgium's beautiful cities (such as Bruges, below) or to other European countries. My
timetable and salary meant that every weekend I was able to hop on a train, bus, or flight to explore
somewhere new. In one year I saw many new places and things, such as...
9. Milan for the day - 6am flight out, 9pm flight back, 15 euros return....
10. ..... I also went to Bratislava, Poland, Lille, many
cities in Germany and the Netherlands... it was a
fantastic year that I will never forget....and
something I wouldn't have experienced if I hadn't
have studied a second language...
I celebrated my 21st birthday in Paris
11. When my post in Belgium ended, I took a job in a private language school in France,
where I lived and worked for two months of the summer before going back to
Nottingham to complete my degree.
12.
13.
14. The school was just outside of a beautiful old town called Laval
15. After finishing my degree I decided I needed a new adventure, and took a job in rural
Quebec. Here, I quite often have to stop my car for one of these...
16. And if I'm really lucky, sometimes I see one of
these.....
28. Going to the Cabane à Sucre, where they make maple syrup....
29. .... maple taffy on the snow ....
(they pour boiling hot maple syrup onto fresh snow to make a kind of maple candy)
30. So many things to do, if you can get out of the snow that is …
31.
32.
33.
34. So, that is the end of my journey up to yet. Like I said, I do not know where it will
take
me next, but I can bet I won't be bored. I am lucky to have been able to experience
everything I have so far; and to think it all began by choosing to study French at
Netherthorpe. The one single regret I have is not taking another language alongside
French. Speaking French has opened so many doors for me that I wonder about the
opportunities available for those who speak two foreign languages. I really do
recommend
studying at least one language at A Level. Yes, sometimes it can be difficult... the
grammar
can be boring... the exams can be stressful, but in the end when you can go to another
country, converse with the locals and really be part of another culture, your hard
work will
pay off.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me :
beth.briggs@hotmail.co.uk
