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splitting the year abroad?

i'm applying to study french + ab initio italian and opinions on the year abroad are mixed. some of the unis that have courses i'm interested in make it compulsory to split your year between the countries of your languages, while others make it compulsory to spend the whole year in one.
is there anyone who's taken 2 languages who could help me out? is it a good idea to split the year, or does it just mean your quality of learning is decreased? if you spend the whole year in one, what happens to the other language?
Personally, I think it is better to split your year abroad. Going into your fourth year of a Modern Languages degree not having studied or really spoken one of your languages for a whole year is not a good idea. Most of the universities that don't split the year abroad often get students to specialise in just one language in their final year.
Reply 2
Avatar for FionaMG
FionaMG
11
Bear in mind that your "year" abroad is actually an academic year so equates to roughly nine months. This means you still have time to fit in several months in your other country before and/or afterwards, and if you take an intensive language course while you are there that should help bring your standard up in that language. Apparently your Erasmus grant (assuming you are eligible for this) will probably be sufficient to cover the extra cost. I say apparently because this is what a fourth-year ML student at my daughter's uni said she did during an applicant day presentation, so I'm not speaking from personal experience. The uni in question is one of the ones that wants you to do your full year in one country.

If you did this, you would probably be best to spend the year in the country of your weaker language to bring your standard up closer to that of your stronger language.
Reply 3
Avatar for mtlda
mtlda
OP
Original post by Snufkin
Personally, I think it is better to split your year abroad. Going into your fourth year of a Modern Languages degree not having studied or really spoken one of your languages for a whole year is not a good idea. Most of the universities that don't split the year abroad often get students to specialise in just one language in their final year.


thanks, man. i was leaning towards that conclusion, but the point about the fourth year really cinched it. ive applied to one uni which requires a whole year in one country, but my other 4 let me split.

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