Work experience and Spanish courses in Spain: opinion of a French student

Today, Friday the 3rd of June, I finish my 2-month long work experience here in Bilbao, where I have been working as an administrative secretary. I have been here as part of my BTS administrative management course in France, which obliges me to spend 2 months abroad between the 4th of April and 4th of June.

During this work experience in Insituto Hemingway, during which José López was my tutor, I have undertaken a variety of tasks:

•Translating articles for the school’s website
•Writing and editing of French and Spanish articles
•Searching for new markets and clients for the school
•Assisting students´ queries
•Answering the telephone
•Taking Spanish courses
•Accompanying students enrolled in the school on activities around Bilbao

I worked for 4 hours every day and for the rest of the time, I took advantage of the cultural activities offered by the school, or I went to the beach with my friends, went shopping… The activities proposed by the school are varied and interesting, for example I have visited museums, other towns and villages tried the famous pintxos (tapas) and churros with chocolate.

Bilbao is a pleasant, active city with a kind and friendly population. The public transport system is brilliant and there are endless things to do.

This work experience has taught me to be more independent and how to live with other people in harmony (thanks to the shared apartment in which I stayed), but it has also improved my level of Spanish. It has been a fantastic experience to work in a foreign country and I have met lots of new and interesting people.

It was my first real experience of living away from my family home and my friends for an extended period of time, and although it was hard to leave France and the first few days in Spain were difficult, I learnt how to cope on my own, make new friends, speak to the local population…. And the 2 months flew by!

I think it is a great opportunity for all students to do a 2 month-long work experience placement abroad; both from a professional, as well as from a personal point of view. I thoroughly recommend it!

Stéphanie Izard