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Choosing to study abroad, whether it’s for your whole degree or a portion of it is a fantastic choice. The experience of living outside of your own country, especially somewhere that is rich in culture and history like Paris can be very rewarding indeed. Working among a different culture can be enlightening and can help to expand your mind, making you more open to the ideas of others. We’ve put together a quick guide for studying abroad in Paris to help you along your journey.
Travelling Around Paris
Getting around any large city can be somewhat of a chore and is often one of the main reasons people prefer to live in smaller cities and towns. However, the great thing about cities like Paris is that they have some phenomenal public transport services. The Parisian metro is a fantastic option for travelling around the city, and can quickly get you where you need to go in a matter of minutes. As well as the metro, you also have great bus links and even bicycle rentals so you can enjoy one of the top bike-friendly cities in the world.
Learn Some French
It’s common courtesy to learn at least some basic local phrases wherever you travel to, but if you’re staying for a prolonged period of time in another country, it would be regarded as quite arrogant to not even consider learning a bit more of the language. Not only is it a sign of respect for the people you’re going to be meeting, but it’s also going to make your time in this country a lot easier. Not everybody can speak fluent English, and some people just want to speak their own language which is perfectly acceptable in their own country. While many French citizens will do their best to accommodate your lack of French language knowledge, being able to use some simple French to communicate will be very useful.
Finding Accommodation
Wherever you’re travelling to, finding somewhere to stay will be at the top of your list. There are lots of places that you could consider staying, which almost makes the decision a more difficult one. There are many student rooms in Paris that are perfect for younger people in full-time education looking for an independent space near essential amenities. When making this choice, one of the most important things to consider is location. While it is easy to get around the city, you don’t necessarily want to take public transport for a majority of your outings. Instead, search for a place that is nearby essential shops and places you’ll generally want to visit often, especially your university.
Make Some Friends
Learning the language is going to set you up with a much better chance of making some friends during your time studying abroad. While most younger generations in France learn English fluently, it will make your time approaching new people much easier and less stressful for everyone, as you’ll be able to dip in and out of each other’s language for better understanding. Making friends is very important, especially in an unfamiliar place, as you’ll likely feel a bit lonely and having people around that you know will alleviate those feelings. Not to mention making friends here will help you to improve your French language skills too.
Not everybody can speak fluent English, and some people just want to speak their own language which is perfectly acceptable in their own country. While many French citizens will do their best to accommodate your lack of French language knowledge, being able to use some simple French to communicate will be very useful. If you’re ever in need of assistance with your academic writing, you can always rely on services like write my paper for me, PaperWriter to help you out.