10 Top Tips for Learning a Language While Studying Abroad
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For young adults planning to attend high school abroad, you're likely looking forward to the chance to travel, meet new people and learn a new language. Studies show that the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it, after all!
Plus, there are many benefits to learning a second language. It can open the door to greater opportunities in life and can also help with overcoming the language barrier, one of the biggest struggles of studying abroad.
How can you make it easier to learn a new language while living in a different country? This guide shares a few ideas for how to learn a new language while studying abroad.
1. Watch YouTube in the Local Language
Watching popular YouTube videos or local television shows is an entertaining way to learn a new language. YouTubers usually use easy-to-understand conversational language and speak about relatable situations. Not to mention, videos provide visual context clues to help you decipher the new words and phrases you're hearing.
A great way to find popular YouTube channels is by asking your new high school friends or searching for your favorite topics once there.
2. Listen to Music on the Local Radio Station
Listening to a local radio station is another fun way to pick up a new language. A local radio station mixes popular local songs with interesting talking segments, a good blend of learning material. Plus, listening to lyrics set to a catchy tune can help your brain remember the words, even before you understand what you’re singing.
3. Read Books in the Local Language
Reading is one of the best ways to learn a language as it introduces you to new vocabulary words and sentence structures that you can easily see and commit to memory. Reading also can help you pick up the grammatical rules of a new language, all while enjoying a story!
4. Speak the Language with Locals Every Chance You Can
Using a new language that you're still learning can be intimidating, but don't let the fear of making mistakes keep you from speaking the language every chance you get! Try to use the language when you visit the local library, go to the bowling alley with friends, visit local shops and explore new landmarks with your host family. Repeated practice is essential to becoming fluent in a different language.
Read a blog about a participant overcoming the language barrier on her high school abroad program.
5. Don’t Be Discouraged if Locals Switch to English
English is commonly spoken around the world, so don’t be discouraged if someone begins speaking English to you while practicing their local language. Be polite yet persistent and try to continue speaking their language even when this happens. Most of the time, people are only switching to help you and don’t mean it as a reflection of your abilities.
6. Coordinate a Language Exchange at Your New High School
Coordinating a language exchange is a great way to practice your conversational skills while chatting about things you enjoy. These exchanges can also help you practice words and phrases on topics that may not be as familiar to you, like pop culture, societal issues and politics.
The beauty of a language exchange is that it's your choice what you talk about. You'll walk away a more confident speaker and possibly gain a new friend or two from your school abroad!
7. Take Part in Outings with Your Host Family
Your host family during your study abroad experience can help you learn the local language as they show you new and exciting places at your destination. Think of them as a friendly resource who can demonstrate how to sound more like a native speaker. From practicing your accent and pronunciation to teaching you local slang, the time spent soaking up the language with your host family will boost your confidence when chatting with locals while exploring.
8. Set Your Devices to the Local Language
One of the simplest tips for learning a new language is to change the settings on your phone, laptop and other electronics to display in the local language. Being confronted with the language daily makes reading a habit, and you'll grow more confident with simple functions in the foreign language.
9. Continue to Be an Active Language Learner
When you are immersed in the language, it’s easy to become a passive learner. As incredible a benefit as it is to simply be immersed in a language, you need to continue to make an effort to study.
As for how to study a new language when living abroad, it’s helpful to write down new words you hear and continue to study from books or courses. Additionally, don't be afraid to ask questions about how to say certain things from friends or your host family.
10. Celebrate Local Holidays and Events
Participating in local holidays and events while living abroad is not only fun, but it offers invaluable immersive language practice. You'll be surrounded by the spoken language while developing a deeper understanding of the holidays that are a big part of your host country's culture. Experiencing these special traditions firsthand forges a deeper connection with local culture and can motivate you to learn the language to feel more a part of the community.
The Best Way to Learn a Language Is by Living Abroad
The cultural and language immersion you encounter while living abroad is something you cannot replicate in a classroom. In exciting destinations where you can attend high school as a local, like Japan, France, Italy, Germany and Spain, you’ll watch your world language skills soar!
Schedule a call with a CIEE Enrollment Coordinator to learn more about how to improve your foreign language skills while participating in one of CIEE's High School Semester Abroad Programs.