Learning a foreign language in another country is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself into any culture. Imagine the joy of being able to order that crème brulee in its native tongue or purchasing the definitive Italian leather bag without sounding like a tourist.
Short vacation language courses that last one to two weeks are available, but if you can dedicate enough time (usually a minimum of four weeks), the skills you develop will extend far beyond being able to speak Italian or French.
There are literally thousands of language schools located throughout Europe so your first decisions will be what language you want to learn and what city you want to live in. The choice of location may also be influenced by other activities you'd like to participate in, proximity to tourism attractions and general accessibility. Cost is another important consideration, although how can you put a price on a priceless education?
As someone who spent three months learning Italian in Florence, I can honestly say that the experience was unforgettable and invaluable. My choice was largely based on the fact that I was fascinated by all things Italian and obsessed with art and history -- so Florence was an easy pick.
For a small city, Florence certainly has its share of major attractions, in fact it is one of the world's most popular tourism destinations, hands down. It has a vibrant local community and is a large university town, so students flourish there. Its centrality also makes it a great option, as you are surrounded by history, close to beaches, vineyards, ski fields -- and who can resist that sensational shopping? Studying in the fall or winter will ensure that you avoid the intense crowds of the warmer months and take advantage of cheaper airfares and accommodation.
For a comprehensive listing of language schools in Italy, including more than 20 in the Florence area alone, visit www.studyabroaditaly.org or www.it-schools.com. These sites also provide information about alternative courses for studying art, history, cooking and what you will. You can choose between staying in a hotel or pensione during your stay or alternatively renting an apartment or taking a room in a student apartment. Often your school will assist you in finding lodging, however there are many websites that can help. Vacation Rentals by Owners (www.vrbo.com) cuts out the middle-man and lets you deal directly with the apartment owner. Other apartment rental sites include www.apartmentsflorence.com and www.affittareintoscana.com. Three helpful reservation sites for pensioni are:
Flights to Italy are not particularly expensive (some under $400), especially in the fall and winter. Make sure that the discount flight you purchase allows you to stay for the entire length of your proposed course.
Go-Today (tel. 425/487-9632; www.go-today.com), 1800FlyEurope (tel. 800/359-3876; www.1800flyeurope.com), Airfare Planet (tel. 503/345-0410; www.airfareplanet.com) and Gate1 Travel (tel. 800/682-3333; www.gate1travel.com) consistently offer rock-bottom fares to Italy, generally flying into Rome or Milan. One-way flights may cost a little more but they do allow for you to be flexible with your return date. Try to avoid looking for flights that fly into Florence Airport, a small regional airport, as they are often more expensive, sometimes on smaller aircraft and less frequent. Florence is only a two-hour train trip from Rome (approximately $50 one-way including Inter-City supplement) so you're better off looking for cheap flights to Rome.
For the Francophile, studying in France will be equally rewarding. Whether you study the French language or indulge in something more culinary or artistic, a month is Paris or the south of France will be a memorable experience.
Once again the choice of schools is enormous so there are a few websites you can use to do your research including:
- www.frenchamericanexchange.com
- www.worldwide.edu/ci/france/flschools_adult.html
- www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/study/language/france.shtml
One of the centers of French language studies is the beautiful city of Montepellier (www.ot-montpellier.fr/index_en.php) located on the Mediterranean in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Montpellier and the surrounding area is known for its higher education institutions, beaches, vineyards, medieval architecture and its proximity to UNESCO world heritage sites and Roman archaeological wonders. It is a perfect base to explore the tourism delights of southern France.
You can fly into Montpellier Airport from New York (mostly via Paris) during the fall and winter seasons for as low as $400 plus taxes. Once again, the European discount airfare specialists mentioned above have cheap alternatives, some with 60-day maximum stays. Alternatively if you choose to fly into Paris, a train ride from there to Montpellier takes just over three hours and costs approximately $60 one-way (all tickets can be booked online at www.voyages-sncf.com but only non-exchangeable, non-refundable tickets can be printed from the site).
Accommodation options are plentiful, although some websites are exclusively in French. Try www.languedocfrance.com/rentals, www.languedoc-france-property.com, or https://france.vrbo.com/vrbo/fra.htm for apartment rental listings. Minimum stays in these apartments are usually one to two weeks.
For further information about Montpellier visit www.frommers.com/destinations/montpellier and for Florence, visit www.frommers.com/destinations/florence.