International Language Exchange: A Personal Account

International exchange or year-abroad linguistic programs provide some of the most worthwhile opportunities for your child to grow, learn, mature and experience the bigger world picture during their formative years. A course organized through your child’s high school or an independent institute not only allows your child to experience living in a different country, learning another language and discovering a new culture, but more often than not, the rewards of such a study break include a new lease on life and a reinvigoration of their direction and energy.

My daughter was no exception to this rule. Even though she’d never shown a natural predilection for languages, she became interested in studying at a French course France when she was fifteen and her friends started talking about exchange programs. Of course my husband and I wished she’d picked somewhere closer to home, like a Spanish course Mexico, but it had to be France – and she’s never looked back since!

Keeping up with her French studies, she went and spent a year working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mauritania. Not only did her French improve through her constant use of the language in day-to-day situations, she also came back home being able to converse in Pulaar and a little bit of Arabic. She’s had itchy feet ever since – the travel bug has well and truly bitten her! After she returned, she was soon off again to work for a year in Paris as an au pair. All this French practice has paid off, as she’s just starting Grad School for French translation, and I’m just so proud.

Wherever your children aspire to study, whether it’s for an Italian course Italy, German course Switzerland or English course Canada, I would thoroughly recommend the opportunity. If it’s feasible for you to support your child’s education in this manner, then give it some consideration. I certainly did!