No one evaluates my English or French skills. I believe that if I actively approach my friends and enjoy conversations without worrying about such judgments, I will gain more and have better experiences than those who have a more passive attitude.

Montpellier with its dazzling Mediterranean, Learning French

Jang Bitna, Gap Year Participant / 4 weeks of Gap Year

▲ This is a video of the project filmed by Jang Bitna during the project.

# 'I wonder if I can teach children again, this time from the perspective of a student?'

Hello, I am a 27-year-old ordinary office worker, and I joined the gap year program dreaming of a short escape. I have been teaching English for a long time, but like many jobs, after a few years, I found myself losing the passion and patience I once had for understanding the children.

As I was wondering, 'Can I teach children again from the perspective of a student?' I thought that maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to become a student again and study a second foreign language, which led me to join this program.

I wasn't worried about going abroad. I had previously stayed in another country for over a year, so I wasn't concerned or stressed about staying for a month.

Of course, it would be a lie to say that I didn't feel any burden about what I would do after I come back.

I’ve already realized that life doesn’t dramatically change, so I never expected sudden changes. I didn’t expect a big transformation; instead, I hoped it would be an opportunity to reflect on my passion for learning, my mindset as a student, and my attitude as a teacher. I think I have achieved that.

Oh, by the way, my humble goal (?) was to understand a French menu in a French restaurant and confidently order in French, and I think I’ve accomplished that.(As you’ll see if you go, outside of tourist areas, ordering in English is almost impossible, and ordering with gestures might make you feel embarrassed. Haha)

# I tried to communicate using gestures and words, and the lessons were slow-paced and enjoyable.

Arriving at Montpellier airport on the first day with excitement, I had the mission of finding my accommodation on my own since I hadn’t arranged for a pick-up. It wasn’t difficult to get from the airport to the city center, but finding my accommodation was surprisingly difficult and a bit nerve-wracking.

I was worried about getting lost, but when I didn't know something, I just asked for directions and managed to finally arrive at the accommodation and check in with the manager.

Since I arrived on Sunday, I quickly unpacked my things and got ready for my first day of school on Monday. The first day started at 8:30 AM.. On Monday morning, I met the new students and teachers in front of the school and we all went to the classroom. After a brief self-introduction, we began the level test.

It was a simple interview, but for me, there wasn’t much to test. I’m a complete beginner.. haha. After the level test, we were assigned to our respective classes and the first lesson began!

There were 9 students in my class, including me, and we came from various countries: the USA, the UK, Australia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Korea! Since we all had basic skills, we didn’t feel self-conscious about each other’s abilities. We all tried to express ourselves by mixing gestures and words, and the class was conducted slowly and in a fun way.

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The classes are usually conducted in French, but if I really don’t understand, the teacher explains in English. (It wasn’t a problem since most people can speak English, but when I asked what happens if there are students who can’t speak English, they said they would slow down the pace and use lots of pictures, photos, and videos.)

The class lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes, followed by a 15-minute break. Then, after another 1 hour and 30 minutes of class, it finishes around lunchtime.

During the class, we chat with friends, but most of the time we eat lunch together and spend the afternoon together. It’s an opportunity to make friends. The school is right next to Comedy Square, so there are many cheap, delicious places, and plenty of parks, so after class, there are a lot of things to see.

Otherwise, you can join the activities that the school prepares every week. For example, making French food, watching French movies, city tours, going to the zoo, etc.

# There are so many beautiful cities nearby that I felt a month wasn’t enough.

In the afternoon, the schedule is free time, so it can vary greatly depending on what you decide to do. Dinner also depends on where you’re staying, and since I live alone, I cook dinner at home, then either do homework or relax, or sometimes go out to meet friends in the evening.

Friends who are staying with host families usually eat dinner at home, spend time with their family, or go out to meet friends.

On weekends, you can either go on a day trip organized by the school or travel by yourself. For me, I went on a trip organized by the school twice a month, and traveled on my own for the other two trips.

There are so many beautiful cities nearby that one month feels too short. The school-organized trips are nice because you can go with your friends, most of the time travel by bus, and there’s no hassle of making separate bookings. The downside is that the trips are quite rushed and can be exhausting.

On the other hand, when you travel individually, you can plan your own itinerary and enjoy a more relaxed schedule, but it may cost a bit more.

# My Recommended Travel Destination

* Recommended Day Trip: Sete

It’s a very small port city, just 17 minutes by train from Montpellier. Take a late morning train to Sete, enjoy lunch while viewing the canals and boats that have earned it the nickname "Little Venice," relax on the beach soaking up the sun, then head up to the hills before sunset to enjoy the view. A laid-back itinerary.

The best part is that even after doing all of that, you can still be back in Montpellier by 8 PM!

When people think of the South of France, they usually imagine big cities like Nice, Cannes, Monaco, or Marseille. But I recommend traveling to smaller, lesser-known towns instead of those crowded places.

While in Montpellier, I think it’s smarter to visit places you may never get to again!!

# Accommodation Tips

I had about four options for accommodations during my one-month stay.

Hotel / Homestay / Studio apartment (one-room format) / University dormitory

The hotel option was the most expensive, and university dormitories were only open during the summer season, so they were not available for my visit in November. After much consideration between homestay and living on my own, I chose to live on my own because I wanted a more independent space.

The place I stayed was an apartment-style building, and it seemed like other students, including myself, were living there. It was about a 10-minute tram ride to town, or a 30-minute walk from the apartment complex.

The bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom were all well-equipped, and what was most convenient was that the kitchen items (pots, plates, forks, etc.) were all provided. What I liked the most was that they cleaned the place every Saturday.

Of course, I kept the place clean and did my own cleaning, but having someone tidy up once a week made it feel even cleaner, and every two weeks, they changed the bed sheets.

The first things you need to buy when you arrive are toilet paper, detergent, and groceries. Everything else is already provided, so you can live comfortably without any worries.

Shopping was a bit of a problem since there weren't any shopping places near my house. So I would usually go grocery shopping at a large supermarket in town after school or visit a big shopping mall on the weekends.

In the mornings, I mostly walked to the academy, but when it rained, I took the tram to school. A single ride costs 1.60 euros, but if you buy a 10-ride ticket, it costs 10 euros, so I used the 10-ride ticket. (Transfers are possible within an hour.)

During the 4 weeks, I used about 4 ten-ride tickets while traveling around, and for the last few rides, I bought single tickets separately.

*Accommodation Tip

Most people who are a bit older prefer living independently. Living alone is convenient for an independent lifestyle and there’s no need to worry about others, but for younger students, it seems safer and more helpful for language improvement to live with family.

It seems like people who stay in homestays really enjoy the French-style dinners provided there, so I thought I'd mention that!

# My Gap Year Tips

(Meals)

If you're cooking your own meals, you can save a lot on food costs, but you won't have many opportunities to try French food. So, I recommend occasionally dining out at a French restaurant using the money you saved on food!

(What to bring)

* Items I regretted not having

Special seasonings (At the Korean grocery store, you can only find basic things like gochujang, curry, doenjang, sesame oil, and ramen. If you need anything more specific, it's better to bring it with you.)

* Items that are good to buy

Brita (water filter): French tap water has a lot of lime, so it’s uncomfortable to drink. I had to buy bottled water every time, which became quite a hassle. But if you buy a Brita water bottle at the store, it has a filter that removes the lime, so you can drink tap water directly.

* Items that were convenient to have

Slippers (It's hard to find cheap slippers like the ones sold in Korean stationery stores)

Basic French conversation book (Sometimes the input from language classes isn't enough)

Hair dryer and straightener (They can be bought in France, but Korean products seem to work better for Korean hair)

(Pro Tip)

No one will evaluate my English or French skills.

If you approach your friends actively and enjoy conversations without worrying about others' judgment, I believe you will gain and experience more than those who take a more passive approach.

# I made another commitment and goal to come back here again next time.

Learning a new language can be a huge commitment for some, while for others, it might just be a hobby worth trying. Since I knew it wouldn’t be easy to learn a completely new language in one month, I didn’t set an enormous goal for myself.

I thought it would be a great achievement just to gain some interest in and basic knowledge of French. In reality, the goals I set were small ones, such as ordering in French at a restaurant, not using English when going to nearby areas, and participating in French cultural events.

However, the fun of working through these small goals made my gap year even more special.

As a university town, Montpellier had a wide variety of creative cultural events, local events, and festivals. Events introducing local wines, light shows, Christmas markets, and more were available. Whenever I went outside after school, I was flooded with options for things to do.

There were many things to do, like visiting the zoo, the beach, and museums. I tried to enjoy every moment to the fullest, despite the regret and preciousness of the limited time.

I listened to the stories of different people, felt them with my heart, got inspired, and discovered myself in this small world. I made friends in the larger world, encouraging each other and gaining confidence.

Regardless of age or nationality, we were all united by the common goal of learning French in Montpellier. It was truly sad to say goodbye, with the hope of meeting again someday.

One month was too short. When I started getting used to the excitement and tension, and the picturesque walk to school became familiar, it was time to leave. The regret made me promise to come back again one day with new goals and aspirations.

I came with the goal of learning French, but it feels like I gained not only the language, but also culture and new friends.

In November, when the leaves fall and Christmas approaches, Montpellier has given me endless experiences. I’m already planning to return and see the sun-drenched summer of Montpellier again.

I have become able to clearly express what I want and share my thoughts with others, rather than just thinking alone. Learning a new language has also helped me develop patience with myself, and above all, I have developed a passion for French.

My Gap Year

Experience ★★★★★

In Montpellier, the locals continuously organize cultural events. During my 4 weeks there, just attending the cultural events every week would make for unforgettable memories. For example, the wine festival, Christmas market, Miss France, free orchestra performances, and more.

Learning ★★★★★

Since the French hardly use English, I had no choice but to use French. It provided an opportunity for forced learning and constant exposure to the language.

Environment ★★★★★

The typical nice weather of southern France, clear skies, and a clean city.

Safety ★★★★☆

Although the city is known as a student town with students from various nationalities, sometimes there are looks directed at foreigners in a somewhat obvious manner.

Leisure ★★★★★

There are many cultural events, and it's very convenient for traveling to nearby areas. Buses and trains are both affordable.