want to move to france, help!!?

Question

ok, I'm taking a gap year and I want to move to France for a year for a different experience and a different outlook on life. I need help as I pretty much don't speak any french (but all I learnt in high school). Are there any schemes to help people like me or any help for me?

for the people that didn't help and just said, "you really do need help" and nothing useful, please do yourself a favour and get a life! You really are the ones that need help imo..

Answer 1

First of all, taking a gap year abroad is a very good idea. It broadens your horizon, and makes one more open-minded. It is also very interesting culturally.
As I live in France, I can only say you are making a good choice to come here.
First of all, do you want to move there by yourself, get a job and just live there ? Or do you want to be part of a program ?
In the second case, ask a high school or university in your area.
In the first case, the first step should be to make sure everything is ok with the administrative paperwork : ID card, etc.
Then, pack what you need and make sure you have enough money saved up. You can either go blindly and live in a hotel or family for a few days, or try to find an host family before. If your choice is the host family, then you may have to send an ad to newspapers in French - it works quite well.
If you need more information, I would be happy to help you.

Answer 2

A gap year?

I'm not familar with the term...but, I think you mean the same as a student (college) taking a year off. You can get student lodging in France - or any part in Europe that you want. Just do a google search and you'll find plenty of info. I've had friends that did this and just backpacked through Europe for a year.

Language isn't a problem. Most people speak English and are willing to speak English. In some parts of France people are snobby and won't speak English or will give you dirty looks. Oh well, you'll pick it up once you've been there a few months anyway! Especially if you took it in High School.

Feel free to email me if you need to.

Answer 3

i spent a yr in France as a chef, I went with my partner whom is fluent French, but basically as long as you are polite and try some of their language you will be respected for that I learnt little bits from my partner, then got brave and went shopping on my own & to the bar and I did get in a pickle sometimes but had a good laugh. The more you speak to the French the more you will learn, they are lovely people as a whole and will help as much as poss...but do beware in the big cities, as the same as anywhere around the world you could be taken advantage of.

Answer 4

My mum moved there 2 years ago, not being able to speak a word of french, now she is fluent.
They got to know other English people out there and they all help each other out. They started off by taking a pad of paper and pen with them everywhere as well as a dictionary and communicated mainly by pictures to start with. They read books and newspapers (things with pictures) and soon picked up the language. There are also websites for English people living in France with chat rooms etc, where they help each other out. Sorry dont know the address.
Good luck and enjoy!

Answer 5

Sounds like a fantastic idea.. go for it and enjoy. France is a fantastic country. You will certainly pick up loads of French when you are there, immersion is the best way to learn the language,

Sorry I am not sure re- schemes, but there are some good ideas above. Wish you the best of luck

Answer 6

Try this page. It is best if you stick to the schools that concentrate on spoken French until you have the basics, then you can change if you want. The Sobonne gets very good reviews and you can get a permit to work if you do their course, but it is really more written and grammatical French that they do. I had a friend who did Alliance Francais for 3 months then went to the Sorbonne, that worked well for her. Alliance Francais will assess your level and put you in the best class for you. Be careful some places are v. expensive.

Answer 7

Hi,

I can advice Montpellier, which is a sunny, and a great student city, just next to the mediterranean see. It's not too big but just enough at the same time. You'll meet a lot of foreign students, americans, south americans, asian.....Then, if you have some money, just rent an apartment (or a house if don't study).
like every language, you'll learn automatically when you'll be there, when talkin, watchin tv, shopping....

email me if I could help I'll do.

bonne journée a tous

Answer 8

Wow, I admire your spontaneaity! As you took high school francais, im guessing you know the basics? money, numbers, greetings, time, just general words, correct? I highly recommend you pick up some books on the french language (if you are broke, just check out the library) I reccomend French to English Dictionary, French for Dummies, Basic French, etc. Also, email or call up your old high school french teacher, im positive they would be more than willing to help you (they love hearing about FOC- french outside the classroom)

Bon Voyage!

Answer 9

To begin u should go here www.amb-usa.fr/archivesf/leach/defaut.htm
After u should try to meet by internet some american people who live at Paris!!!
To finish if u have money, u are open mind and u don't come with an american flag :) u will spend a good time...
Oh when u r in france if u speack english, try to speack really slowly...
Sinon bienvenu en France

Answer 10

You certainly do need help if you want to move to France ;)

If you're looking for a different experience and a different outlook on life, get convicted of ABH which carries a 12 month sentence.

Hurt somebody worthwhile though, like a paedophile or Pete from Big Brother.