Byeol is a student from South Korea who completed her master’s degree in France. She has now been working full-time in Paris for 7 years.
Discover how she turned her dream of studying in France (and later working there) into reality.
Byeol’s journey from South Korea to studying in France
While she was in high school, Byeol spent a year in Lyon, France, through an exchange program. This was her first experience in France.
After returning to Korea, she finished high school and university there. She graduated from a local university and wanted to do her master’s degree abroad. Since she enjoyed her time in France, she chose to study there and enrolled in a French business school.
“After graduating, I became even more motivated to pursue a Master’s degree abroad. Since I had already lived in France for a year, I thought, “Why not go back?”. That’s how I ended up enrolling in a French business school and officially starting my journey to studying in France.”
After finishing her two-year master’s degree in Finance in France, she found a job in finance at a large company. Her job has helped her grow both personally and professionally, and it marked the start of her international career. Byeol has now been working in Paris for 7 years and looks forward to many more.
“I come from a non-prestigious local university in Korea and had no prior background in my field before entering a French business school for my Master’s degree. Now, working at a global company, I want to show that even people without outstanding credentials can achieve international careers, and to share a message of hope and courage.”
Overcoming language barriers
Like many international students, Byeol found learning French challenging at first. When she was first studying in France for a year, she had reached a B2 level after her year in Lyon, but after finishing her bachelor’s degree in Korea, her skills had slipped below that level. She had to work hard to feel confident speaking and using French at work.
When she started her master’s in France, she felt a lot of pressure about the language. Rather than aiming for perfect French, she focused on using it as much as possible in real situations. This approach helped her succeed. By practicing French at school, during internships, and in daily life, and not being afraid to make mistakes, she improved her skills. Now, she can use French confidently at work and in her everyday life in Paris.
“At my first full-time job, I initially worked in English, but after 6 months, I gradually switched to French. I still remember spending an hour just to hit “send” on my very first email written in French. That experience made me realize how important it was to improve my French. I learned by referring to emails from my French colleagues, and thanks to my first company, which provided me with two private French tutors, I was able to study more systematically. Even though my French wasn’t perfect, I made a point to speak French with my colleagues during coffee breaks and at work, which helped me improve significantly.”
Gaining new perspectives through studying in France
For Byeol, studying in France changed her outlook and direction in life. There, she met people from many different cultures and backgrounds, which broadened her perspective and gave her the confidence to handle new situations on her own.
“Through this journey, I learned how to live independently. I gained confidence that I can handle anything. I learned to value work-life balance, as many French people do, and to enjoy life with a bit more ease. I had never imagined that one day I would collaborate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds in Paris and continue to grow every day in a global environment.”
Advice for students considering studying in France
Byeol knows that deciding to study abroad is a big and sometimes difficult choice. It can be hard to feel fully ready for such a step. She believes that perseverance is important, and if you trust your abilities and take initiative, many new opportunities can open up. You too could be living and studying in France if you wanted.
“When preparing to study or work abroad, many people wonder, “Am I ready?”. Me too, I felt the same way. I believe that if you don’t give up and continue building experience step by step, unexpected opportunities will come your way. Do not underestimate yourself and believe in your potential and take initiative. Studying abroad is not an easy choice, but it’s a valuable experience that opens new opportunities, broadens your perspective, and expands your life. I hope my story can be of help to anyone reading it.”
Changing lives through study abroad
For students considering studying in France, Byeol’s experience shows how awesome it is to learn a language by fully immersing yourself in it and the culture. If you want to see what she’s up to in France, you can follow her on Instagram.
At Go! Go! France, we share Byeol’s vision and believe that studying abroad is a life-changing experience. Our team is made up of people who studied abroad themselves and know what it means to take this big step. We make it easy to find a school and apply for your student visa so you can fulfill your dream of living and studying in France.
If you’d like to live and study in France, contact our team for free support and more information.
