Picture this: beautiful beaches, historic museums, a bustling cafe, and you in the middle of it all, living your best life as a digital nomad. Living abroad is not just about taking in the tourist sights and sounds; it's also a great opportunity to learn a foreign language.
Here are the five top strategies for language learners on how to learn a new language abroad:
This is very important because if you embody it, then language learning will become second nature to you. Your language learning journey can be formal, with you taking lessons by enrolling in a language school or other language learning programs.
It can also be an informal thing, where you still learn a foreign language even without traditional teaching. How do you do that?
You just take every opportunity to learn a new language. It can be something as simple as keeping a vocabulary book with you at all times. Then, you take down new words or phrases that you hear and go over them when you can.
If you want something simpler, you can watch local children's television. If you are a complete novice, this would be perfect to attain your learning goals. The language used in children's television shows is usually simpler, so you can learn to speak properly.
The great thing about this digital age is the various resources you can make use of for language learning. There are so many language learners who become almost fluent through the use of the internet alone.
Of course, there are many language learning programs from reputable schools that can speed up your learning process. But if you do not have access to these schools, you can simply look for resources online and fit them to your learning style.
You can use translation apps like Google Translate. This is helpful, as when you are out and about, you can use this app to help you navigate. It has features where you can take a picture of signs, etc in a foreign language, and it will translate it for you.
This app is very helpful as it can translate several languages, so you can hop from one country to another, and it will still be useful.
Aside from translation apps, there are also many apps that can be used for learning languages. Some of the popular ones include Duolingo and Babbel.
Another app where you can learn different languages is Mondly, which has been chosen as the Best App by Apple and Google Play. They offer lessons in popular languages like French, Spanish, and Japanese.
Another way of learning a new language is through courses. Websites like Coursera and Udemy offer lessons in other languages. You can learn the basics of a foreign language and eventually get good enough to speak confidently with native speakers.
You can even learn more than one language by enrolling in more than one language program. This is perfect if you plan to travel to different countries and want to converse in other languages.
One of the best ways to learn a language abroad is to simply talk with the native speakers of your target language. This does mean enrolling in language schools in the area.
How about staying in the home of a local family? This way, you can improve your language skills, and at the same time, you can also have a first-hand view of a local family's everyday life
If that is not an option, it can be something as simple as going to the market or talking to your servers at the restaurant in their native language.
Do not be afraid to make mistakes when learning a new language. And don't forget to use nonverbal cues like facial expressions and gestures when you speak. Communication is not just about words, but getting your point across.
Do you have a friend whose second language is the one you want to learn? Then, go hit them up for a crash course on conversational language. The great thing about being a digital nomad is that there are many ways to communicate and network with other digital nomads from all over.
If you've made a few friends who already talk like a native speaker, ask them how to learn a new language. They may give you books that they used or even help you practice what you have learned so far in your target language.
This may seem like a hard task, but it is an effective way to learn a new language. For English speakers, you'll find that there are many who will want to converse with you.
English is considered a "universal language," after all. So they may want to practice and speak with you in order to practice their own English skills.
While this may be helpful for them, it is not necessarily beneficial to you. In order to learn a language, you must practice it after all.
You need to be firm in saying no if they demand that you speak to them in English. Keep speaking the local languages, even if they answer back in English as this is still one of the best ways to learn a language.
So there you have it, digital nomads. Just remember that the point of learning a language is to effectively communicate. It is more than just learning different words or the grammar rules, it is learning to connect with those of other cultures too.
.svg){kind=icon}