Learning a language abroad can be a fun experience if you’re willing to dedicate enough time to it. There are many ways you could master a foreign tongue, from taking courses to walking around and talking to people. It all depends on the level of knowledge you want to reach and the amount of time you have to do it.
Don’t get too stressed out if you make mistakes, everybody does. Take your time. Make the studying experience fun. Take into consideration helpful tips from people who have mastered the spoken word before you. They might make the process faster and easier.
Benefits of Learning a Language Abroad
Being bilingual has many benefits. First and foremost, every piece of knowledge you obtain improves your memory. Getting information becomes faster and easier. So you should pick up another skill while you are at it.
Speaking the same language as natives do will help you not only with everyday life but with finding a job and advancing your career. There are many possibilities for expats who understand the natives. If you’re, by any chance, moving to Japan, you should get familiar with Japanese. It will open many career opportunities for you. The same goes for many European countries – moving to Monaco or relocating to Germany will be much easier if you put in some effort to learn.
You’ll Learn Faster
When you relocate to any country in the non-English speaking world, you will be surrounded by people who speak the official languages of the nation. That is the challenge of moving abroad. There is no chance for you to avoid it. You will be immersed in it, whether you are walking around, visiting some cultural or art events, even at work. Wherever you go, that is the sound you will hear, and remembering it will come quickly and more naturally.
It Is Easier to Learn Slang and Dialect
Being surrounded by native speakers will make it easier for you to pick up slang and different dialects. If you decide to move to Germany, know that many words only exist in German. For example, “Weltschmerz” is an expression that denotes deep sadness about the world. And if you move to Portugal or Brazil, you’ll often come across the unique expression “Saudade,” which stands for a feeling of melancholic longing for something or someone. Words like this one will be easier to grasp when you are around natives.
Enroll in Programs
When you decide to relocate, you should let a trustworthy moving company handle your belongings while you are looking for a good study program. If you want to feel like a local one day, you need to be able to understand them. Imagine moving to the Netherlands and not speaking Dutch. Socializing would be a bit harder, don’t you think?
Depending on where you are going, many countries have different programs to help you conquer the dialect that is spoken.
Choose the Right International Program
Choosing the right study program is essential. You should firstly be realistic about the level of knowledge you possess. Start with that when you are looking for a program.
Also, you should consider your goals:
- How proficient do you want to be?
- How much time can dedicate to mastering it?
- What is your budget?
Study and Learn Different Languages Abroad
Choosing to learn a skill, become bilingual, or even a polyglot is something to be admired. But wich language you pick depends on many things. Maybe you are moving abroad for love, to some exotic place like Dubai, so getting the hang of Arabic should be a priority if you want to relocate to the United Arab Emirates.
Maybe you decided to relocate to one of the best places to live in Europe. If that means you’ll be moving to Sweden, it is only logical that you start mastering Swedish or even Finnish.
Whatever the reasons are, the sooner you get down to business, the faster you will adapt to the new place.
Research Job Listings – Moving Overseas to Teach English
When you’re a native English speaker, your job opportunities in other countries are primarily in the field of education. You can find a job in many places abroad. Do your research, and you will find the perfect country for yourself and your family. Places like South Korea, China, and Taiwan are just some of many that seek for native English speakers.
When you land a job, ask your employer about the possibility of promotion if you master the native dialect. You can learn from your students’ bits and pieces of the language, all while you are teaching them English.
Volunteer or Go to a Developing Country
If you are a firm believer in giving back to the community, volunteering overseas should be your next move. Working with NGOs and other organizations will help you make friends in the new country, all that while learning a new tongue.
Also, if your budget doesn’t allow you to relocate to one of those world-famous countries, you can always move internationally to some developing country.
You Don’t Have to Go to Spain to Learn Spanish
Are you tight on funds but still want to master languages other than English? If you want to learn Spanish, you don’t have to go to Spain. Do you know that Spanish is spoken in twenty different nations? So, pack up your bags and get ready for the international move. You can choose to relocate to Venezuela, Mexico, Panama, or many other places.
Tips for Faster Studying
When mastering a skill, no matter what it is, you should follow some useful tips from people who have done it before you. When it comes to languages, you should take your time – not all of us have the same pace. It takes as long as it takes. Maybe you should start even before you relocate. Let movers with professional packing service handle your belongings while you focus on rules of grammar and expand your vocabulary.
Talk the Talk
First things first, you know that practice makes perfect. The same goes for this task. Use every opportunity to talk to natives, even other expats. You will get more comfortable and confident with speaking as time passes by.
Start with Common Words
Even when you are in the middle of deciding what items you should put in storage and whether you should get a vehicle shipping service, it is an excellent time to start memorizing common words of the new language. Knowing them will help you with necessary, everyday maneuvering until you become fluent. Knowing how to order at the restaurant or call a cab can be essential for your adjustment period in the new culture.
Use Audio Lessons
If you are too busy with work to sit and take classes, use audio lessons for a while or read stories and newspaper articles. They are a good way for you to get familiar with the unknown rules of grammar and phonetics. You can listen to them while you commute, wait in lines, or taking a walk.
Find a Way to Make It Fun
Who said that studying couldn’t be fun? Go outside, meet people, have conversations with them. It will help you study the culture as well. Go online and find fun facts about the dialect you are trying to speak. Research slang and try to slip it casually into your conversations.
Learning new languages might seem like a tough thing to do, but when you get the hang of it, you will not only be bilingual, but you will learn to appreciate more the culture you live in.
