As part of my training at business school, we were able to complete a four-week language internship in French-speaking Switzerland. The aim was to expand our vocabulary and let go of our fear of speaking in foreign languages.
I was in Switzerland in Estavayer-le-Lac. It's a small town on Lake Neuchâtel and belongs to the canton of Fribourg.
The language course lasted four weeks. And I completed it in July 2016.
I was very happy with the language study trip, as I learned a lot of new things about the language and culture. I particularly enjoyed the festival, which took place in the last week of my stay.
I learned what it's like to live without my own family. It was a special experience, as it was the first time I had to manage without my mother and brother for so long. As I worked in a hotel, I was also able to gain experience of the professional world for the first time. My French language skills improved significantly.
In my opinion, a language study trip is most effective if you do it alone and not with friends or family. It's also important to be motivated and willing to learn, because that's how you can get the most out of it.
I looked for my language study trip myself and wrote to lots of hotels in French-speaking Switzerland. At first I only got rejections, but then I was allowed to go and introduce myself in Estavayer and it was a great fit straight away.
I was very pleased with my persistent search and long perseverance. In the end, this was also super rewarded.