Student Exchange to Europe

Learning an additional language has many benefits: Cognitively, it will flex and strengthen your brain. Socially, it will expand your world. Personally, you will also gain a strong sense of achievement and come home feeling very proud of yourself! It may even lead to a future career as an interpreter, linguist, foreign correspondent, diplomat, or any number of other possibilities!

Which language would you like to learn? Maybe you have had some experience before with learning a language, or know others who speak one of these languages? Do you like the sound of a Latin language like French, Italian or Spanish, or a Germanic language like German, Dutch or Danish? Maybe you are studying one of the languages or have plans to study one at uni.

Being a speaker of English already puts you at an advantage, as English is a Germanic language with strong influence from Latin languages, so you will find that there are some similarities. And of course, all these languages use the same alphabet as English (give or take a few letters), so reading and writing won’t present a huge challenge for you.

What are your passions?

Maybe a particular country will allow you to experience one of your interests in a more immersive way.

For example, we have had students who are passionate about French cooking choose France so they can soak up those flavours and develop their skills even further. Other students have been history enthusiasts and have chosen Italy, as the heart of the Roman Empire.

Think about the things you love, and which country might offer opportunities to further pursue those interests.

Many students use their exchange as a chance to connect with the culture of their older relatives. Perhaps you have Italian grandparents, and going to Italy would be a wonderful way to keep the culture and language of your family alive.

Maybe one of your parents was born in Germany and you grew up hearing stories about Germany and practising German traditions. Spending your exchange year there will help you to further develop that cultural connection and develop a deeper understanding of where you come from.

Remember that every student exchange experience is different. Even within the same country there is a vast array of exchange experiences.

Factors other than country come into play, such as your host family, your school, the region, or the neighbourhood. So why not throw caution to the wind and just go with whatever country you feel like, and don’t overthink it! Ultimately it is the experience of going on exchange itself that is the most significant thing.

Wherever you go, you will have the same opportunity to learn, grow and have fun, provided you have an open mind are willing to embrace the challenges.