Can your Residence Abroad for TSM be completed before college?

andmilestogo

Hey, I'm a JF doing french as part of tsm, and they told us about our residence abroad, that we have to spend about 8 weeks in a french speaking country in order to complete the course. Like, you could do an erasmus year, or just do a semester abroad, or do it in your own time, etc. I was just wondering if these 8 weeks have to be completed during your college years? Because I just got back from living in France for 10 months. Does this not count because it was before I was registered in the college? Do I have to do it again, or will they accept it?

Thank you for any help you might give!

languagenerd

As far as I remember (I've just finished my degree in TSM French and Spanish), some of your residence abroad can be pre-registration, but not all of it. I think up to four out of eight weeks can be during the summer before you start college but the other four must be during your degree. However, considering how long you were there, it'd be worth asking one the French dept secretaries or whoever's now the head of department if it could be counted.

Note that the eight weeks don't all have to be at the same time. You could take four two-week holidays and it would count. Just make sure you keep a few receipts/utility bills/payslips/flight tickets etc as you'll be asked for proof when you finish French (in the month of March in your third or fourth year).