Six Ways Mary Washington Prepared Us for Life in France
The University of Mary Washington‘s motto, “Where Great Minds Get to Work,” really says it all. UMW is a public liberal arts university in Virginia known for its high-quality instruction and tight-knit community – and it happens to be our alma mater! Jalen and I began our journey at UMW in 2015 and received our Bachelor of Arts degrees in 2019. After graduation, we moved to France to teach English to middle and high school students for an academic year with the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF). Now, we’re about a year into our master’s degrees in France at the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne. We believe that our time at UMW was instrumental in propelling us to where we are today. Read on to learn about how our experiences at Mary Washington prepared us for life in France.
1. Studying Abroad with the Center for International Education
Studying abroad in Canada during our spring break in 2018 was an unforgettable experience. In addition to fueling our passion for international travel, our time in Montréal and Québec City allowed us to gain cultural competence by trying new foods, visiting educational museums, watching two plays, enjoying guided tours, and more. The soft skills we gained are absolutely necessary in our daily lives as Americans abroad immersed in a culture that isn’t our own.
2. Working for the Office of Residence Life
Jalen and I both worked for the Office of Residence Life for much of our college experience – Jalen worked as a Resident Assistant for four semesters and I worked as a Resident Assistant, a Summer Resident Assistant, a Senior Resident Assistant, and a Residence Life Assistant for a total of eight semesters. Leadership, communication, organization, time-management, and event planning are all abilities that we refined during our time with Residence Life. We especially found this work experience helpful while creating and delivering English lessons in the classroom during our time with TAPIF.
3. Tackling Academically Rigorous Coursework
Taking a wide variety of classes from experienced professors with high standards was no easy feat! Making the grade at UMW means putting in lots of work both in and outside of the classroom. Despite the challenges that come with studying at an institution where the benchmark is no less than intellectual excellence, Jalen and I managed to complete double majors and graduate with honors. UMW’s academic rigor set us up for success in our master’s degrees in Public Law and Logistics in France.
4. Perfecting Our French-Language Skills
Perhaps the most important factor of leading a rewarding life in France is mastering the language. The fantastic French department at UMW allowed both Jalen and I to do just that. After taking useful classes like French Phonetics and Oral Communication, Business French, and French Translation to complete our French major, we both passed the DALF C2 after graduation, the highest achievable credential for French as a foreign language. Our advanced level of French has facilitated our life in France in more ways than we can count, allowing us to seamlessly communicate with others, giving us the opportunity to teach English to French students, and letting us pursue master’s degrees taught completely in our second language.
5. Studying International Affairs
Our International Affairs major has been influential to our life abroad as well. First of all, our knowledge in the fields of Political Science, International Relations, Economics, Geography, History, and Foreign Policy empower us to have meaningful conversations about current affairs that arise when others in France learn that we are American. Furthermore, our International Affairs major guided both of us to our current master’s degrees. Though neither of us continued studying International Affairs proper, my degree in Public Law and Jalen’s degree in Logistics are both related to our undergrad studies.
6. Attending Culturally-Enriching Events
Living a fulfilling life abroad requires an open and curious mind. We cultivated these traits during our time at UMW by participating in the numerous cultural events that our university offered regularly. Some of our favorite memories took place at events like World Language Day, the Multicultural Fair, the Foreign Film Series, the Performing Arts Company’s Big and Small Shows, the Theatre Department’s plays, Arab Culture Night, the Step Show, the Global Café, and more!
Jalen and I truly believe that attending UMW played a worthwhile role in preparing us for life in France as Americans and will continue to serve us wherever we end up! UMW will always hold a special place in our hearts and we can’t overstate how grateful we are for our years as UMW Eagles.
If you have questions about our experience at Mary Washington or about living in France, let us know in a comment!
Check out our video about the differences between French and American university!
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