L'année prochaine

[montagnarde1793]

[Poll #1454640]In other news, I'm undertaking an annotated translation of Quatre-Vingt-Treize this semester. It should be epic. ^__^

Comments

[sibylla-oo.livejournal.com]

Very clever decision.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

It's just one of those things where, to me anyway, those programs only make sense if you're going to a country to learn the language. Since I already know French, even if it weren't my goal to live in France once I've graduated from my current university, why would I want to go essentially as a tourist?

[sibylla-oo.livejournal.com]

I doubt its usefulness even for learning the language. The students are taught in English, have Enligh-speaking classmates, socialize with their countrymen. All they usually learn is to ask for a pint of beer and for the bill. I think it's more of an experience of being far from one's parents and knowing a foreign city ;-)

[nirejseki.livejournal.com]

My school isn't like that - I went abroad to England because I didn't want to learn a language, but even then you're essentially kicked out into city on your own, and in the other countries I know that most students are housed with a family of the area and not really given the option of sticking with their countrymen, so to speak; and that's the ones that choose to go to the official "campus" of the university rather than just use my uni to get into another school - but I'm certain quite a few schools are. ^^ Actually, I'm pretty sure that's a universal student custom - certainly the tourist-students that come to my town don't bother learning any more English than that!

[sibylla-oo.livejournal.com]

I see. I shan't generalize, but what I have seen was:
1) no contact with local scholars, no contact with local students
2) ok, they live with local families, but socialize with their classmates, who are almost exclusively from the university of origin.
It's quite common to stick with other foreigners when one studies abroad, but if one studies in a local branch of his/her national university, then one generally does not mix, never mind the locals, not even with people from other countries in similar situation (which is what usually happens when people study at the local university). Of course, there are always exceptions. What I've seen were people who spend most of their time in company of their countrymen.
For academic reasons it's also better to get directly to a big university, as the important experts are there. I mean, if you are coming for longer than a year, this is very important. if it's just a short stay, then the branch can be a good option.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

I think that's certainly true for some of them, but I think others are geared specifically toward learning the language at a basic level. (Which of course means that they would still spend all their time with each other and not really see whatever city they're in except as tourists.)

[sibylla-oo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've made too strong a statement. You're right. There are different kinds of programmes for different kinds of stays. As nijerseki has written, her university seems to offer a pretty good, integrating options.
I was probably under the impact of reading Duval on Gallica and discussing in with maelicia on her LJ ;-)

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

Doubtless that had something to do with it. XD;;

[sibylla-oo.livejournal.com]

Well, it certainly dazzled my reason for a couple of hours. I couldn't get back to work until late in the evening. Early 19th century memoires of young notary assistants are not for me. They sem to have similar effects on my brain as LSD. :-)

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

No doubt about it, they can be dangerous. Just look at all the damage they've done to the historiography!