[Scarly]

Hi,
I have an unconditional offer to study English and Italian at Warwick. I'm also due to have a baby at the end of august. My question is what do I do in terms of the year abroad? It's in the second year, and I'm guessing provisions can't be made to take my partner AND a one year old baby... but at the open day, they made a pretty big deal of it and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to pass the course minus the year abroad.
I'm assuming I'm not the first person to be in this position, so there must be a way I can get around this?
I also don't want to change my course. I'm set on the course, I just don't know how to bypass/alter the year abroad.
Thanks.

[ohvirginia]

there's a girl in my year doing her year abroad at the minute - in Spain - and she has a son. her situation is slightly different, though, in that he is a little bit older so she has just taken him abroad with her and enrolled him in school, etc.
as your baby will be much younger it will obviously be harder. it seems like she's been given a lot of financial support so if you did decide to proceed with it - maybe take your partner abroad to help look after the baby - you would hopefully manage well financially.

i was under the impression that, generally, in exceptional circumstances the year abroad isn't compulsory. as you'll have a young infant i'd say there's a big chance you wouldn't have to do it! this is something you could talk through with your tutors and advisors at Warwick

having said that, i'm currently on the second half of my year abroad, this semester in Italy, and it's been amazing, so i'd say definitely consider all options before ruling it out!

[Scarly]

(Original post by ohvirginia)
there's a girl in my year doing her year abroad at the minute - in Spain - and she has a son. her situation is slightly different, though, in that he is a little bit older so she has just taken him abroad with her and enrolled him in school, etc.
as your baby will be much younger it will obviously be harder. it seems like she's been given a lot of financial support so if you did decide to proceed with it - maybe take your partner abroad to help look after the baby - you would hopefully manage well financially.

i was under the impression that, generally, in exceptional circumstances the year abroad isn't compulsory. as you'll have a young infant i'd say there's a big chance you wouldn't have to do it! this is something you could talk through with your tutors and advisors at Warwick

having said that, i'm currently on the second half of my year abroad, this semester in Italy, and it's been amazing, so i'd say definitely consider all options before ruling it out!

Thanks for your advice! I'll have to look into it, but I would love to go to Italy if possible, having spent a few weeks there last year! Sounds like it could be doable under the right conditions...

I'd just feel bad dragging my boyfriend abroad when he doesn't speak the language and to have to put his ambitions on hold for me... but he's totally prepared to do that so maybe...

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by Scarly)
I also don't want to change my course. I'm set on the course, I just don't know how to bypass/alter the year abroad.
Thanks.

I don't mean to come off as a judgemental prick, although I'm aware that I possibly will: when you decided to have a child, did the fact that you might have to compromise on things such as course choice in order to do the best thing for that child not cross your mind?


On a more helpful note: Contact Warwick, they will be the ones most able to answer your questions because this will vary between universities.

[tashazzz]

Talk it through with your university and see what they say, it's your best option. If you want to do the year abroad then it could really help with your degree and may even open up new opportunities for you three as a family.
I'm sure you're not the first person in this situation so your uni be able to offer you some advice.

(Original post by bahjat93)
Abortion is always an option

That's really not funny and nothing to do with the op's question.

[Scarly]

(Original post by TheSownRose)
I don't mean to come off as a judgemental prick, although I'm aware that I possibly will: when you decided to have a child, did the fact that you might have to compromise on things such as course choice in order to do the best thing for that child not cross your mind?

No don't worry, I completely understand where you're coming from. I didn't decide to have a child as such, it was very much a case of 'surprise!' by which time I'd already applied to university so I was kind of stuck.

edit: with regards to your edit, thanks I'll get on to them in the morning

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by Scarly)
No don't worry, I completely understand where you're coming from. I didn't decide to have a child as such, it was very much a case of 'surprise!' by which time I'd already applied to university so I was kind of stuck.

edit: with regards to your edit, thanks I'll get on to them in the morning

Well, I wish you luck - your position isn't one I envy, must admit. I hope Warwick can provide a helpful solution.

[ohvirginia]

it's definitely doable.. likewise i know other people who have gone on their year abroad with their partners - in the same situation, don't speak the language etc - but it's only a year and if he's willing to do it then don't say no straightaway.

it could end up being a great experience for him - he could learn Italian (there are bound to be loads of beginners courses and night classes for foreigners), take up new hobbies... or if nothing else, he'll be surrounded by a new culture, great food and a beautiful language! plus he'll have your bambino to keep him company. that in itself means it isn't a waste of time for him.

[edjunkie]

Look into the child care arrangements available in Italy. Even if your partner is unable to go with you full time, a combination of nursery and informal care may be possible.

Check if you will be eligible for child benefit whilst you are in Italy, this can help cover the cost of child care. Talk to your university about deferring your year abroad for a year. It is much easier to find child care for an older child, a year can make all the difference. It might also be possible to complete the year abroad element in an intensive form. For example I knew a few people who for health reasons could not complete the full year abroad, but they were allowed to enrol on intensive university courses for 3 months duration. You have to fairly commuted to pass the overseas course, to meet the requirement. But from a logistic stand point it is easier than doing it over 9 months if you have a supportive family.

[PinkMobilePhone]

I was doing French at uni when I first became pregnant. I ended up switching courses - I didn't think it was very practical at all taking a baby to France for my year abroad.

If you really think you can manage it, then go for it I suppose, but I think you'll find it very awkward. Who is going to watch your baby for your whilst you're in lectures in the Italian university for example (or whilst you're working over there, if you're going down that route)? Your boyfriend I assume....how is he going to manage in an emergency? He wouldn't be able to phone for a doctor for example if he can't speak Italian.
Do you have any family or friends who live in Italy that can support you?

If it were me, I'd switch courses (which is exactly what I did do) to something that doesn't require a year abroad.

[RibenaRockstar]

The other possibility would be to let your boyfriend look after baby for the year, with lots of Skype and so on, or is there any reason why that wouldn't work?

[gm15]

(Original post by PinkMobilePhone)
I was doing French at uni when I first became pregnant. I ended up switching courses - I didn't think it was very practical at all taking a baby to France for my year abroad.

If you really think you can manage it, then go for it I suppose, but I think you'll find it very awkward. Who is going to watch your baby for your whilst you're in lectures in the French university for example (or whilst you're working over there, if you're going down that route)? Your boyfriend I assume....how is he going to manage in an emergency? He wouldn't be able to phone for a doctor for example if he can't speak Italian.
Do you have any family or friends who live in France that can support you?

If it were me, I'd switch courses (which is exactly what I did do) to something that doesn't require a year abroad.

Really? Because france and italy don't have any sort of child care and nobody not even the people in emmergency call centres speak english?

[roh]

(Original post by Scarly)
Hi,
I have an unconditional offer to study English and Italian at Warwick. I'm also due to have a baby at the end of august. My question is what do I do in terms of the year abroad? It's in the second year, and I'm guessing provisions can't be made to take my partner AND a one year old baby... but at the open day, they made a pretty big deal of it and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to pass the course minus the year abroad.
I'm assuming I'm not the first person to be in this position, so there must be a way I can get around this?
I also don't want to change my course. I'm set on the course, I just don't know how to bypass/alter the year abroad.
Thanks.

I know a couple of people who missed their Year Abroad at my uni because of family reasons (parent fell seriously ill in one case, not sure about the other) and the uni's compromise was for them to spend the entire summer between Second and their Final year (are you sure it's second year, not third?) in the country, in order to research material for their dissertation and just improve their language skills. Warwick may well allow you to do this in your circumstances.

I think Final year would be a struggle without at least one reasonably extended stay there but the people I know say they weren't miles behind the Fourth years when it came to fluency after 3 months.

Otherwise you could look into the various grants available for the financial side at least, ERASMUS for example may have some extra (they're pretty generous generally). Obviously, it depends on how your partner feels too but it could be an amazing experience to do as a family just as much as it as an individual, and given how quickly kids pick up languages your, by then, toddler will probably return better at a Italian than you! For him there are intensive classes around usually and he could definitely be good enough at Italian to get by by the time you go and, depending on his age, going away for a year at around 21/22 and learning a valuable skill whilst he's there might not dent his ambitions too much.

[tsveta]

I can't really offer any advice but I just wanted to say you must be in a really difficult position, and good luck!! Hope the baby brings you all the joy in the world and you have an amazing time at Warwick, hope it works out

[edjunkie]

International students come to the UK all the time, families in tow, not necessarily speaking the language. UK families emigrate to countries where English is not the first language, with only one partner able to speak the language. Guess what they cope.

The successful movers, find out what is available in advance and make contact with expat groups to help build their social network. It is also a good way finding out what is available in a new country.

If your family and partner are based in the say Leeds and the only place you can do your course is London, you would work something out.

If the OP is unable to do the year abroad with child and partner based in Italy. Provided arrangements can be made in the UK, you could consider a combination of Skype and regular trips home using the "cheap" airlines. Consider exchanging English lessons for child are.

It is not impossible, you just might have to think laterally, rather than focusing on it being too difficult.

[hobnob]

OK, I've just had to remove several posts from this thread. If you guys wish to discuss your views on abortion, you're free to do so, but please do it in H&R and don't derail other people's threads for that purpose.

[PinkMobilePhone]

(Original post by gm15)
Really? Because france and italy don't have any sort of child care and nobody not even the people in emmergency call centres speak english?

well first of all I made a typo - I meant to say Italy/Italian rather than France/French (the times where I got it wrong). I guess I had France on the brain.

Secondly - yes I'm sure there is childcare in Italy, but I hardly think a student would be able to afford it. Have you any idea how expensive childcare is? You obviously don't have kids!

Thirdly, would you expect our emergency services to speak Italian? If not, then why would you expect the emergency services in Italy to speak English. Okay in a dire emergency the OP and her other half would probably manage (even if he has to write SOS and wave it at a policeman lol), but her boyfriend is going to struggle with general day to day living if he can't speak any Italian. Looking after a baby is taxing enough as it is without having to content with severe language barriers.

Like I said, if she really wants to do it, and thinks that they will manage, then fine, but I think it will be difficult.

[PinkMobilePhone]

(Original post by RibenaRockstar)
The other possibility would be to let your boyfriend look after baby for the year, with lots of Skype and so on, or is there any reason why that wouldn't work?

would you want to spend a year away from your child? I wouldn't be willing to spend a fortnight away from mine!

[roh]

(Original post by PinkMobilePhone)
well first of all I made a typo - I meant to say Italy rather than France (the second time where I mentioned France). I guess I had France on the brain.

Secondly - yes I'm sure there is childcare in Italy, but I hardly think a student would be able to afford it. Have you any idea how expensive childcare is? You obviously don't have kids!

Thirdly, would you expect our emergency services to speak Italian? If not, then why would you expect the emergency services in Italy to speak English. Okay in a dire emergency the OP and her other half would probably manage (even if he has to write SOS and wave it at a policeman lol), but her boyfriend is going to struggle with general day to day living if he can't speak any Italian. Looking after a baby is taxing enough as it is without having to content with severe language barriers.

Like I said, if she really wants to do it, and thinks that they will manage, then fine, but I think it will be difficult.

He has 2 years to learn Italian to a reasonable level though, it's not like they'd be going this September.

Plenty of colleges offer ab initio Italian to A Level standard in 2 years of AS+A2 so there's no reason, particularly given he's got strong motivation to learn it, why he couldn't get up to a reasonable standard by then if he starts taking evening classes or something now.

[PinkMobilePhone]

(Original post by roh)
He has 2 years to learn Italian to a reasonable level though, it's not like they'd be going this September.

Plenty of colleges offer ab initio Italian to A Level standard in 2 years of AS+A2 so there's no reason, particularly given he's got strong motivation to learn it, why he couldn't get up to a reasonable standard by then if he starts taking evening classes or something now.

If they really want to do it, then yeh, sure, they could do it. But as I said it won't be easy, because looking after a baby is, in itself, very challenging, without having to content with the language barriers.

Not only that, but the upheaval itself with a baby in tow will be a logistical nightmare.

I didn't say it was impossible, I said it would be difficult/awkward (which it would be, I stand by this - moving within the same city with a small child to content with is difficult in itself! I can only assume that moving abroad would be challenging, and then there's the move back after the year there).