With the end of the school year comes the age-old question from high school students: what’s going to happen in a few months’ time? Where will I end up? Will I see my friends again? Passing the baccalaureate is a rite of passage that, in a way, ushers us into adulthood. Some will go on to higher education, while others will enter the world of work. Another option – which other European Union countries and Americans have long been choosing – is to go abroad after the baccalaureate. Why? Under what conditions? What are the benefits?
When traveling, we often meet young people who take a “gap year”, a break of a few weeks or months. They take advantage of this time to take a step back and make the most of their youth to discover some parts of the world. This cut is widespread in many countries and is becoming increasingly popular in France.
The first benefits of this break are to get to know ourselves better, to take time for ourselves and to grow.
You develop your “soft skills” – organizational and leadership qualities, open-mindedness, etc. – and return to a different country with new skills. Of course, you also come back having learned a new language, and most of the time coming back bilingual! These are skills that will serve us well for the rest of our lives, and are highly sought-after in the world of work. Fluency in English is often a prerequisite for job applications, and soft skills are highly valued. Today, we believe that knowledge can be learned, but that personal skills are the basis for being a good collaborator.
On the job market, English is a prerequisite. It’s rare to find a job with responsibilities or an international company where you’re not required to speak English fluently. This is true in France, and even more so if you’re interested in an international career.
By moving to Dublin, you’ll boost your professional network and your openness to the world. You’ll be in direct contact with a different culture, you’ll make different friends: you’ll evolve in a different world.
One of the biggest benefits of these stays abroad – if you’re interested, think about contacting a specialized and certified organization, NF for example, to make sure you get the best possible support – is to improve your English. That’s why we recommend a stay in Dublin. So you’ll have English lessons during the day and time during your breaks or quiet moments to explore Dublin.
In your free time, you can wander the Irish streets with the friends you’ve made in class. Indeed, for introverts or people who are very sociable (and who may miss the family cocoon in France), it can be hard to make friends and meet people when living abroad.
On a language immersion trip, you’ll meet foreigners from all over the world who’ve come to Ireland not only to improve their English, but also to build a new professional and personal network and make new friends. You’ll experience an exceptional adventure you won’t soon forget, and discover the rich, vibrant culture of Ireland!
What’s more, our English courses are given by native speakers and trained teachers to help you progress in English as quickly as possible. Using an innovative teaching method – for NF-certified organizations – you’ll improve your oral and written comprehension, while developing your vocabulary and grammar. You’ll learn English before you know it!
The Irish have a reputation for being welcoming, sociable and generous. It’s all true! When you go to Dublin to take a course, you’ll discover a charming and cheerful population! You can join them in one of Dublin’s many pubs, but that’s not all!
You can also visit Dublin University and find one of the oldest books in the world: the Book of Kells at Trinity College. You can also explore the west of the country by heading for Connemara (just under 300 kms by road). Ireland really is an extraordinary country to discover, so go for it!
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