Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic, as a famous wizard once said. But, how to approach the unknown after international moving and enter the process of learning and creation? With our tips for learning a new language, you’ll get a clue as to where to seek inspiration and how to come a step closer to achieving mastery of your target speech.
The world of fiction abounds in remarkable examples of polyglots, such as Tolkien, whose knowledge of medieval and extinct languages helped him create the Elvish languages in his works, or Nabokov, who managed to write masterpieces in a language he didn’t internalize until late teens. You can learn about more of such examples to assure you of the infinite potential of us humans. But, before that, proceed to our handy tips that will show you that it doesn’t take a genius to make progress.
Beat the Clock and Find the Time to Practice Every Day
Here’s the plot twist, even if you’re in a certain country, it doesn’t mean your very presence will make you speak the target language. Moving overseas entails a lot of challenges, so if you don’t focus, you may easily lose motivation and let it all slip. We all know the silly study tip – stand up, stretch, catch a plane and never come back, but you don’t really want to apply it, do you?
The circumstances of your life will determine the exposure to the language. If it’s related to your job or social circle, you have a better shot at keeping the intrinsic motivation alive. Still, if you deliberately create time and opportunities while living overseas, you’ll become a force to be reckoned with. Here are two ideas to think about.
Use the Time While You Commute for Learning
This may sound like a cliche, but could actually be a superb trick to help you maximize productivity without having to get a time-turner. If you spend time on the bus or in your car, or even if you walk to your job, school, or wherever you’re going during the day, that’s a potential slot for studying. Now, we don’t mean you should drill yourself on conjugations or declensions before your first coffee, though you could if you want to. A milder solution would be to enjoy some listening depending on your level, be it a radio show, music, podcast, audiobook, or anything in the target language.
Create a Plan That Will Work
What is realistic for one person is science fiction for another, and that’s something to accept. Perhaps you like the conventional learning method, and the idea of turning the pages in a language textbook entices you. In that case, you can expect to complete different units in the course of your days.
Still, if it scares you, makes you want to run away, or something of a sort, don’t force it. The answer to the question of how many hours a day should you study to learn a new language is not universal. It depends on how you perceive the process of breaking the language barrier and what method works best for you. For example, it can be much more fruitful to cook for half an hour every day using a recipe in the target tongue than spend a dragging hour with a coursebook material.
A Vital Trick on Your Way to Becoming an Expert is to Make a Strategy
For a task as big as this one, you need some kind of tactic. If you go too wide, too deep, or simply too chaotic, you might end up disappointed and there’s no need to. It always helps to set your goals and have an idea on how to achieve them, and this one comes as no exception. So if you want to learn how to live abroad in terms of teaching yourself the foreign tongue, consider these suggestions.
Determine the Why
The grand question it all boils down to. You must know what you’re aiming for, and your steps should reflect the objective. What does this mean?
If, for instance, you need business French, Spanish, or another language to speak to partners, or clients, knowing how to say someone is the light of your life or another line you picked up from heart-breaking songs or shows won’t help or reduce your moving stress. On the other hand, if you want to impress a friend or a date, being ready to talk about the company’s turnover, for instance, won’t yield stupendous results either.
Set Expectations for Your New Language Adventure
What do you wish to achieve? Fluency and communication skills, writing or being able to read in that language? Are you pressed for time and do you need tips for learning a new language fast? That’ll all influence your goals while learning a language abroad.
One of the Best Tips for Learning a New Language Is to Tap Into Resources
The Renaissance days when you had to search high and low to reach some material are over. Moving overseas means you’re at the scene of the action and you’re probably close to any resource you can think of. So, there’s no reason good enough to just continue exposing yourself to your native tongue, even if it’s English – the lingua franca of the world. These are some ideas to try out.
Watch Movies and TV Shows
You can hire an overseas shipping company to help you transport your TV to a new destination, or you could watch shows from your computer. Either way, enjoying a plot you like already can help immensely in furthering your skills. If you join expat communities with people of your ethnicity, you may find out what they like too and get to exchange impressions on good stories.
Buy Magazines
Even in case you’re moving across the world, you can enjoy the topics you used to like reading about in your homeland. Regardless of whether you’re interested in cars, celebrities, or politics, getting your hands on something with pictures that contains a lot of words in the target language can aid you in getting to learn new words.
Enter the World of Online Resources
Even if your goal is to master Klingon, the Internet is your friend, let alone the global languages. No matter whether you’re relocating to Seoul, or for example, relocating to India, something will pop up.
Here’s a list of ideas on what you can do online to improve your language level:
- Find worksheets and other interesting material someone posted,
- Search for graded readers that are designed with learners in mind, and that can provide you with a nice read that you’ll actually understand,
- Download apps if that’s your thing and boost and track your progress this way.
Consider Social Media as an Option
Platforms like YT or Facebook and Twitter can help you get answers to all the questions you’re interested in from a more personal perspective of real individuals who’re sharing their stories. You can find out what the best places to live abroad are or something more specific such as what the friendliest countries in the world are.
Besides, groups for language enthusiasts and polyglots are also going strong. Join some you like and read news in the target language, share materials, or find a way to make the most of it.
Hit the Good Old Library
If you’re a newbie expat in some of the best countries to live in, you probably have access to some top-notch libraries. Reading books for children might be a good thing to do, as they’re sometimes inspiring for adults too, and they also operate with basic language so that kids could fully comprehend the narrative. If it’s a no for you, try out reading books you’re familiar with in the mother tongue as that can facilitate and speed up your entire journey as well. If we talk about what is the easiest way to learn a new language, this certainly seems like a wonderful option.
Explore the Communicative Potential of Your Situation
Once you get a grasp of how to keep in touch with friends, you’ll be ready to open up space in your head for new people. The basic fact that languages are supposed to be spoken in this case means that you got a golden ticket to achieve your full potential. These are some activities that can enhance your desire to communicate and learn more.
Find a Friend to Learn From
If you’re moving to another country for love of good times, the best thing you can do is try to connect with a study buddy. You can find someone interested in learning your native tongue and find a way to help each other. Or try to find people with similar interests and enjoy exploring new ideas that spring up in your time together.
Volunteer With Locals
Regardless of whether you’re in some of the best places to live in Europe or decided to relocate to South Korea, volunteering is an option. Getting a circle of people who you can talk to might not always be a walk in the park, yet it’s not unattainable. If you’re short on ideas, try to find volunteering opportunities that can get you out of the house and into some groups of people. You’ll do a great thing this way as you’ll simultaneously do something for the community and yourself.
Explore Events
Another option is to go to places where you believe you’ll encounter native speakers. If you’re in a metropolis and searching, for example, for great things to do in Montreal, you’ll have a wide choice to choose from. You can start with parties and perhaps even explore networking opportunities.
Dive Into Culture While You Try to Learn Your Target Language
Another idea that is right in front of you is to find something of interest in the target culture. Be it relocating to Argentina or perhaps relocating to Dubai, you can find something specific that locals can attract you with. Take a look at the following video if you want to learn more tips.
Don’t Give Up Even When You Feel That Words Fail You
Sometimes you’ll face exhaustion and that’s natural after all the hard work you’re putting in your progress. However, not giving up will mean that you can endure and that you’re on the way to mastering perfection.
Do You Need Help With Your Relocation?
Prior to arriving at your new destination, you should know that having excellent international moving services can help you feel good and ready to conquer all language challenges from day one. Be it packing services that you require, storage facilities, or something different such as top-rated auto-shipping, an international moving company can help you finish it all without a hitch.
