You would like to take advantage of your stay abroad to learn a new language or improve yourself? There are a multitude of solutions to help you on this path. In this article, I share with you 11 tips for learning foreign languages better while traveling.
1. Spend time with locals
If you go on a trip with French friends, you will tend to speak the country's language only on rare occasions (to order at a restaurant for example). On the contrary, I advise you to increase the opportunities to speak the language that you want to learn. To do this, you can in particular try to chat with people you meet (on transport for example).
In addition, one of the solutions to speaking the language more easily consists of stay directly with a local. This is especially possible if you volunteer in a country or by directly renting a room from a resident with Airbnb. This will allow you to have more numerous and more varied exchanges.
2. Stay in a youth hostel
In addition, you can choose to stay in a youth hostel during your trip, in order tolearn the language faster. Once again, you will be able to meet inhabitants of various countries. There are generally a lot of exchanges in this type of structure. Visits are organized in groups, nights are spent in dormitories, meals are often taken together… This will allow you to speak a foreign language throughout your stay. Of course, this experience will be even more interesting if you want to learn English. In fact, it is often the language that is most used in youth hostels, so that everyone can understand each other. From the same perspective, if you live abroad for several weeks or months, you can choose to live in shared accommodation in order to benefit from a similar sharing.
3. Study abroad
Currently, we are fortunate to be able to study for several months abroad very easily. In fact, procedures and visas are simplified thanks to programs like Erasmus. Studying abroad will allow you to join in with local life for many weeks. You will be able to take your lessons in a foreign language and even create friendships with locals. It's a great way to progress! Furthermore, on a daily basis, you will live your life like a local. Going shopping or attending a sports club will be opportunities to speak the language.
4. Don’t speak French
Even if you go on a trip with French people, you could bet on only speak the language of the country you are in. First of all, this will appear more respectful if you share an apartment with locals or stay in a hostel. This way, everyone will be able to take part in your conversations, which will undoubtedly lead to very interesting exchanges. In addition, it will be a great exercise to improve in the language you are learning.
5. Stay longer!
It is an undeniable fact: the longer you stay in a foreign country, the more you will progress in the language. Indeed, even if you take English lessons for months in France, you will never have as much progress as by living directly in the country. For what reasons? Simply because everyone around you will speak this foreign language. Bathing in this atmosphere constantly will help your brain progress. This will make learning the language much easier. Additionally, you will be faced with everyday situations in the foreign language, which will make it easier for you to memorize. Indeed, it will be easier to remember that you learned a certain word in a certain context of your life, rather than during yet another lesson.
7. Get corrected…
Even if you try to speak a foreign language as best as possible, you will probably make mistakes! So, to help you in your learning, you can ask people around you to correct you at times. The goal is not to correct all your mistakes of course, but to help you improve by repeating your pronunciation or by sometimes correcting a conjugation for example.
8. …But not too much!
However, this should not be systematic. You don't have to make perfect sentences with well-conjugated verbs and good grammar all the time… Do what you are capable of doing today, without thinking too much. This will allow unlock your ease to speak the language. Then, when you already have a good level and the ability to follow a conversation for example, you will be able to refine your learning by being a a little more careful about grammar. But keep in mind that all this comes with time… Grammar mistakes are not so serious and do not necessarily prevent you from being understood!
9. Take lessons!
Furthermore, you could take advantage of your stay to take foreign language lessons within the country where you are located. This will be a good way to use your vacation to progress in learning a language. Furthermore, it often happens that classes are free for foreigners, especially if you are a resident of the country. Taking lessons and being able to apply them directly on a daily basis will allow you to put all the chances on your side in learning the language.
10. Try!
The French are often afraid to take the plunge and speak a foreign languagebecause they dread the idea of making mistakes. On the contrary, I advise you to gain confidence in yourself and dare. Try to speak the language, no matter your level. If you make a mistake, it doesn't matter! In 90% of cases, the meaning of the message will be understood despite everything. Errors will be less present over time, but what is certain is that you will only progress by practicing again and again.
11. Take advantage of your stay to read and watch films in original language
Finally, if you dream of learning a foreign language quickly Thanks to your stay abroad, you still have one last thing to do. What I advise you to do is to make a total immersion in the language! So, even when you find yourself alone in front of your television, try watching series in original version. Buy books in the language of the country where you live! And listen to music in that language. All this will allow you to speak, see and hear only this language, which will make your learning faster and easier.
You now know everything you can put in place today to progress in learning a foreign language while traveling. However, what these tips don't tell you is that learning a language always takes time and therefore maintaining your motivation as the days go by. So, be kind to yourself and celebrate your small victories! You can do it!