Volunteering to teach French to refugees in Toulouse was a rewarding way for Lucy to brush up on her French grammar, meet people from other places, and work in an area she was interested in working. Image Study abroad experience Destination: Toulouse, France Year: 2017/18 and 2020 Why did you choose your destination? As a French and Spanish student at the University of Edinburgh, I had to go abroad as part of my degree. I chose to study in Toulouse in the south of France for a semester because I thought the city looked nice, and because I could get Erasmus funding for the time abroad which was a vital component in making my year abroad affordable. Living and studying in Toulouse Toulouse is a beautiful city, full of students and young people where both the climate and the people are warm. I met so many people from different countries, studied some interesting courses, and I was able to push myself to learn new things and grow in confidence. I loved living in Toulouse so much, I applied for a Graduate Erasmus+ placement returning to Toulouse in January 2020 where I worked as an English language assistant in another university in the city! It was pretty tricky to find a flat and I ended up in AirBnBs and on the floors of new exchange student friends, before ending up living in my old French teacher's niece's empty flat! It was definitely a character building time. Teaching French to refugees I didn't make loads of French friends, however I volunteered with a student organisation called RETSER (Le Réseau Toulousain en Soutien aux Exilé.e.s et Réfugié.e.s). There I volunteered alongside mainly French and Algerian students, and I taught French to refugees. It was a great way for me to brush up on my French grammar, meet people from other places, and work in an area I was interested in working in. RETSER also organised meal nights, where those involved with the organisation would cook meals from their home countries and we would all eat together. So delicious! Having other exchange students around me was a great support network - it was really important to have people around me who understood what I was going through. I had to push myself to be brave, but it was a great way to learn who I was as a person and the sense of adventure an exchange has given me is something I've brought into my adulthood. Lucy ClarkUniversity of Edinburgh Alumnus It was a great way to meet like-minded people, and I would encourage anyone to consider exchange if they can do so! Do it! It's a challenge, but it is worth it. Current opportunities Find out about funding for study and work abroad via the Turing Scheme. Turing Funding Read about all our current and future opportunities available: Student opportunities Read other students' study and work abroad stories Student stories This article was published on 2024-06-24
