I Studied In France!

Millions of people across the planet spend their childhood dreaming about walking the streets of Paris, seeing the Mona Lisa, climbing the Eiffel tower, eating a croissant, sipping wine, falling in love and just experiencing all that France has to offer. I was no exception and for many it invokes a very emotional response. When traveling the world is one of your lifelong dreams, seeing the Eiffel Tower and all those other Parisian monuments is one of those moments that goes on your travel bucket list for life. Once I took my first glimpse at its grandeur, that’s when I really knew my dreams had come true.

Since I was a kid, I have loved the idea of traveling, reading about other cultures, gaining new experiences and insights as well as learning new languages. Having grown up with a mother who is a teacher of languages (Spanish and English), it was always my delight to listen keenly to the history and customs of people who lived all over the globe. Having also interacted with individuals from different ethnicities via social media, I developed a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and an unquenchable desire to continually explore new horizons and share these experiences with others. For these reasons, it is not surprising that I pursued subjects in foreign languages (French and Spanish), literature, economics, history and geography at the secondary level and am currently preparing a Bachelor’s degree in French and Spanish at Shortwood Teachers’ College. While enrolled at this noble institution that is committed to growth and enlightenment, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to realise one of my lifelong dreams; travelling to France. I, along with my classmates were able to travel to France and enroll at a local university for an extended period where we took classes, visited various sites and monuments while we were spontaneously assimilated into the culture. We stayed with French families and hung out with French youngsters as well as persons from all over the world.

The 21st century has given rise to phenomena such as globalisation and trade liberalisation. The borders that have divided us are becoming somewhat obsolete and the various people of the world are getting closer and closer. One common element of these concepts is that of communication, and this requires the use of languages. Indubitably, I believe that being plurilingual is a great personal and professional asset in this millennium. Consequently, one of my long-term goals is to master other languages a part from the three with which I currently interact. Being a global citizen is what I strive to be and is a path that I would definitely encourage others to pursue.

Here's a few important tips to note:

· Make use of every opportunity that comes in life.

· Never lose sight of your passion.

· Keep your dreams at the forefront of your psyche

· Focus forward & visualize your dreams…. Create the circumstances that lead you where you wanna go.

· Don’t listen to negative people.

· Believe in yourself and your mission. Its going to be a long and difficult road and the inner belief that you will be able to do it sometimes is the only thing that’ll get you through when everyone is telling you no.

· If you want it, go after it.

LANGUAGE LEARNERS:

· Practice! Practice! Practice!

· Don’t be shy, Accept your mistakes

· Don’t view the language as a subject. Think of it as a lifestyle. Try to explore and experience all that the language entail and has to offer. The culture, the music, the food, the people. That will make it 100 times easier to learn.

· Talk to people who share a similar interest in the target languages

· Immerse yourself in the target language and culture through things you love (Music, Movies, Books, etc…)

· It will change who you are, and you need to be open to that change.

· Will expose you to a new way of thinking.

Your Big Bro,

Justin