What has been your career path so far and what position do you currently hold at CREF?
Clément: I work for Cref at the position of customer relations manager, I do also a bit of communication and commercial promotion as well as other tasks related to Russian language courses and Russian language immersion programs. This is my last year as a master's degree student in Russian culture and arts at the Moscow institute of international relations, before I came to Russia I studied law and foreign languages in France. I started working for Cref in July 2013 because I wanted to get a first serious professional experience in Russia.
Did YOU have the chance to study abroad?!
Clément: I went to Russia for a one-year preparatory course of Russian language after I graduated in law and foreign languages in Grenoble university, France. My motivation was to acquire a fluent level of Russian because I always wanted to be fluent in plenty of languages and because Russia is a country worth living in for a long time, the culture is huge and the people really want to make you their fellow compatriot. Then I kept following the Russian way by graduating in Russian law in Paris and coming back to Moscow as a student of an outstanding Russian university: the Moscow institute of international relations.
What is one piece of advice you'd offer a returned study abroad student?
Clément: Russia made me very uncertain of my opinions and orientations, which is good and bad at the same time. I shall advise the study abroad students not to be sure of anything, to be ready to question their deepest convictions and not to follow the most expectable path. Your life can change completely after a stay abroad, you can decide just to stay there or to do completely different things, in any case you will stop having a firm opinion on everything.
If a student didn't study abroad, what are some things they would miss out on?
Clément: If a student didn't study abroad, he/she will have less surprises in his/her life, less adventures. Anyway, this is a choice, when you already know where you're going and your career is expectable it's also an opportunity to think of something else than career and enjoy life!
What makes CREF's programs stand apart from other program options?
Clément: Cref's programs are great for a first stay in Russia, we offer courses of good quality with nice teachers, it is a good compromise between total immersion and being totally taken care of, our staff and the locals you stay with can orient you in English while you are staying in Russia, surrounded with Russians and encouraged to speak Russian.