This paper aims at presenting the preliminary results of a research study that foregrounds the importance of taking into account the learners’ voices. This research shows the students’ experiences of a public universitywhen they are learning French for specific purposes, compared to their previous contact withEnglish as a foreign language. It presents a broader vision of what it means to study EFL and FFL in a public university. This papergives voice to the students themselves in order to go beyond the language itself. It also provides a reflection upon our language education practices in Boyacá. The studyrevolves around the research question:What