At the turn of winter and spring, I had the opportunity to spend six weeks in the French town of Ploërmel, located in the picturesque region of Brittany. During my stay, I attended the local secondary school, Lycée La Mennais, which is situated right in the center of town and has a warm, friendly atmosphere.
I stayed with a host family together with my pen pal Louise, who attended the same school but was one year below me. From the very first day, the family welcomed me with open arms and did their best to show me as much of the area and local traditions as possible. We went on various trips together, and thanks to those experiences, I truly fell in love with Brittany.
Everyone at the school was very welcoming and always ready to help—whether it was with schoolwork or finding my way in a new environment. Even though studying in French was sometimes challenging, I was never left alone—there was always someone willing to lend a helping hand.
The whole stay not only improved my French but also gave me many new experiences, friendships, and memories. It was a unique chance to try living in another country and to learn greater independence.
We asked...
01
Why would you recommend your classmates to participate in the Erasmus+ programme and what advice would you have for them?
I would absolutely recommend this kind of stay to everyone. You learn so many things—especially how to be independent. You have to deal with new situations, often step out of your comfort zone, and find your own ways to adapt. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to significantly improve your language skills. You’re constantly in situations where you have to communicate, and that helps you learn the language naturally and through real-life practice.
On top of that, you get to discover new places, cultures, and lots of interesting people. You’ll take away not just new experiences, but also friendships and memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. It’s an experience that enriches you both linguistically and personally.
02
What experiences and highlights from your stay are worth mentioning?
What I enjoyed the most were the trips with my host family and every moment we spent together. They were so kind and willing to show me as much of the area as possible. One of the most memorable experiences was visiting Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy—a famous monastery that most people know from photos, but seeing it in person is truly breathtaking. If you ever get the chance to visit Brittany, I definitely recommend making a trip there.
We also visited beautiful historic towns like Saint-Malo and Vannes, and the Côte Sauvage coastline on the Quiberon Peninsula was absolutely unforgettable. The sea breeze and stunning scenery completely enchanted me. I still think back on those moments today, and I believe I’ll remember them forever.
03
What were the biggest challenges you overcame during your stay?
There were a few challenges I faced during my stay. The first was simply the journey itself—it was long, and I had to travel alone, which was something new and a bit scary for me. I was also a little anxious about my host family—what if we didn’t get along, or something went wrong? But the biggest challenge turned out to be school, in the best possible way.
The language barrier was the hardest part. Spoken French was sometimes difficult to understand, and it took me a while to catch what was being said. I also began mixing up languages—during English lessons, for example, I would sometimes respond in French without even realizing it.
Another challenge was homesickness and occasional feelings of loneliness. But I learned how to deal with that too—I tried to get involved as much as I could, discover new things, and use my time meaningfully.