From an erasmus exchange to master studies in Paris

My name is Victoria and I have Russian origins. I graduated from the University of Helsinki in French Philology. I started my studies in August 2017 and spent the third (and final) year of my degree at the University Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris 3.

From the beginning of my course, I knew that I would go on exchange to France. I also knew that it would be a Parisian university. I am not sure where this conviction had come from, but it had always been there. Maybe it was due to the fact that I had grown up and always lived in a capital city and therefore I was unaware of the other options in other cities. In addition, my level of French allowed me to communicate with a certain ease. I started learning it in Russia when I was 14. That said, I spoke French before I spoke Finnish. Of course, I stopped using it altogether after moving to Finland as I had to invest all my intellectual capacities in Finnish to reach an academically passable level. So I had a 5-year break, during which my French became rather passive (reading, writing). Fortunately, the knowledge of grammar was unshakeable given the rather traditional approach to teaching FLE that is privileged in Russia. In July 2019, the OLS test qualified my level as C1. According to the same test, following the Erasmus trip, I reached C2.

I chose France and Paris in particular because the Sorbonne is a rather famous public university: it has a rich history and the campus of the Sorbonne Nouvelle is located in the 5th arrondissement, in one of the most beautiful areas of Paris, the Latin Quarter. Who hasn't dreamed of hanging out in the same places that Sartre and de Beauvoir also frequented? In addition, I had considered applying for an M1 in Paris. That said, I felt that a year in Paris would allow me to familiarize myself with the culture and the city before I moved there permanently.

As for the current crisis, COVID has turned everything upside down. Nevertheless, the professors were very understanding and the administration worked hard to make the evaluation more flexible and equal. Of course, foreign students were less concerned by the problems of validation of prior learning. Indeed, everything was done so that we did not have to worry and that everyone got their marks. In addition, we were advised to go home before the official end of the stay because of the total lockdown on 17 March. So on 18 March I left for Moscow to join my family. As far as the courses are concerned, I had no difficulty in validating them: I took all the assessments remotely.

Overall, I can say that, despite the administrative complications, the big national strike and the coronavirus crisis, I had a pleasant stay. It is unlikely that the reader will have to face the same worries during his Erasmus exchange next year as the events, which occurred during this academic year, are absolutely out of the ordinary. I am convinced that every student can benefit from this experience in one way or another. Especially for Finnish students, it seems to me that France offers a great opportunity to become more resilient and creative in everyday life. It also goes without saying that a year spent in a French-speaking environment is equivalent to several years at university in terms of language. It is important to remember that the university environment will never offer enough opportunities to grasp colloquial language which is also closely linked to the cultural context of everyday French life. However, an Erasmus exchange trip can fill this gap.

Of course, in order to succeed in your studies in France, you need a good command of French. Personally, I think that a level of B2 is essential to feel at ease in speaking and writing. As for the files and homework, the teachers are kind and benevolent: they know very well that foreign students make more effort, especially with grammar and spelling. Nevertheless, the more you read and write in French, the better. In France, you need two other qualities: resilience and perseverance. Don't be afraid to argue or demand your rights as an Erasmus student, be firm even if this is not what your culture advocates. Do not hesitate to ask several people in charge of the same subject, especially because they may contradict each other. In France, no matter how many times you are told "no", you can always get a "yes". Indeed, that is the cultural adaptation. 

From September 2020, I will continue my studies in M1 at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris in the Department of Cognitive Studies, where I am reorienting myself towards the major in cognitive psychology. In the long run, I hope to start an academic career and do a PhD as long as I always keep the humility of an eternal student. 

To conclude, the take home message is: don't be afraid and go for new possibilities, new experiences. It is in exchange that you can rediscover yourself and completely redefine your Self.