Tips For Learning A Foreign Language While Studying Abroad
Written by Drew December 9, 2015
The CIMBA group.
My last Italian pizza.
One more flight until home.
Jax couldn't stand to wait for me to get home.
Home sweet home.
So you’ve decided to study abroad in a destination thousands of miles away, and you don’t speak a single word of the native language. The good news? You’re not the first student who chose this path. The solution? Learning a new language.
Prior to studying abroad in Italy, I figured I would be able to get by with speaking Spanish. However, I was pretty wrong in that aspect. So here’s my story regarding my thought process before taking a foreign language class while studying abroad in Italy.
While registering for classes for my study abroad program, I decided at the last minute to take Italy Live, CIMBA’s Italian language class. Why not, you know? I’m going to Italy, and I like foreign language. Why wouldn’t I take an Italian class?
My mindset throughout the class was that I would learn a few Italian words and phrases, get a decent grade, and move on with my studies. However, I learned so much more than I could have imagined.
Toward the conclusion of my study abroad experience, there were a few instances that I realized that I actually did learn a new language. One situation involved me asking and answering several simple questions to a bus driver regarding our trip to the airport, and another involved my conversation with a waiter during my final meal in Italy.
Although I was one student that was able to pick up the language, there were several students in the class that struggled to learn Italian. For those who aren’t so foreign language savvy, here are some tips to help you learn a foreign language throughout your study abroad adventure.
#1. Expose yourself to the language before leaving.
Here’s something I didn’t do that I wish I did before I went abroad.
I was actually in a two credit Italian course prior to going to Italy, but I ended up dropping it due to interference with my Spanish classes. However, if your university offers a course like this one, absolutely take it. This class is a phenomenal way to expose yourself to the language.
Don’t feel like taking a language class while at your home university? Can’t fit a language class into your schedule? Don’t fret: There are other manners to exposing yourself to the language that I would recommend.
The biggest one would be to learn very common questions and phrases. These include “hello,” “how are you?,” “how much does it cost?,” “do you speak English?,” “goodbye,” and numbers, all of which are good aspects to look at prior to going abroad. By learning these different phrases and common questions, you can have a general idea about the language prior to going abroad and it’ll make picking up the language so much easier.
#2. Study the language.
Wait, you have to actually have to study while studying abroad?
Ugh, yes, it’s actually true. This notion actually took me by surprise when I actually was forced to study for classes. However, when I was studying for Italian class, I actually enjoyed it.
Why did I enjoy it? Well, one reason is because I’m very interested in foreign language. The other reason was something I didn’t understand until the later portion of my study abroad program. That reason was the fact that I could actually learn something that I could utilize while I was traveling.
Of course, studying wasn’t always the most enjoyable part of the day, but that reason was always in the back of my head. And, in order to learn the language, you have to study.
So if you decide to take a foreign language class while studying abroad (seriously, you should), remember that you are learning something that you can utilize when you are traveling and that you must study in order to learn the language.
#3. Practice, practice, practice.
Here’s something that I really enjoyed doing during my study abroad experience.
There was one night that we went out with local Italians and they loved when I at least attempted to speak some of their native language. As I have mentioned in a previous post, people love other people that speak their native language. It’s a great way to make friends.
With that in mind, in order to help you learn and retain the language, go out into the community of your study abroad destination and practice what you’ve learned in class. Practice at restaurants, bars, and in casual conversations with locals. Any opportunity you can practice the language will help you out immensely.
Although it can be difficult to learn a language, these different suggestions can help you pick up a language while you are abroad. These methods include exposing yourself to the language before going abroad, studying the language, and practicing the language any chance you get. If you follow these guidelines, you’ll be speaking a new language in no time!
Blogger: Drew, The University of Iowa
