When moving to country where you don’t speak the language, learning the language is an expats’ first step to integrating. It takes time, it’s hard, and frustrating, but it is immensely rewarding and never a waste of time!
Here are a few tips to learn a new language when an expat.
Learning the basics of a new langauge
1. Take classes
You’ll always have to go through the grammar at some point to master a language. Classes and lessons are the bast way to get through that part. In-person classes are great as you will meet people in your area, of your level also learning the language and will get more opportunities to engage. If in-person isn’t an option, you can always find online classes, also very interactive and immersive. Lingoda provides native teachers and plenty of flexibility when it comes to choosing your times, sessions and level.
2. Practice everywhere
Practice makes perfect. Take advantage of every interaction to put your skills into practice, and learn a new word or two. Whether at your local coffee shop, grocery store, or even nail salon, these small conversations will help you progress and integrate into the local community. Bonus, talking with locals, you will learn the local expressions that will make the difference.
3. Find language exchange groups
This is a perfect way to practice day-to-day conversations, learn a few local expressions to sound fluent, and meet people while sharing parts of your respective cultures.
Building confidence to speak a new language
Overcome learned helplessness
Learned helplessness is the sense of powerlessness due to a series of failures. In other words you end up feeling you are not good enough and that you can’t learn languages. By understanding you are capable of learning a language and setting the right goals, you can overcome this sense of helplessness.
Set achievable goals
Don’t expect to be fluent in a few months or even a year, or frustration will take over. It’s important to celebrate milestones and small wins to stay motivated. Aim to be able to order coffee, or maybe it’s to be understood when you give the next work presentation. Celebrating your achievements will help build confidence.
Easy ways to improve your vocabulary
Watch local TV shows
An easy way to immerse oneself is by watching local series of films in the language. Start with easy shows and add subtitles in your language. Once you gain confidence, you can rewatch the shows with local subtitles.
Change the language of your phone
Switch your phone to the local language, you already know all the apps and how to navigate them, by seeing the words regularly you’ll integrate them in no time!
Post-its in your home
Similarly to switching the language of your phone, write the name of objects in your home in the new language on post-its. That way you’ll see them ever day and start to integrate. You can take it a step further and start adding common phrases linked to those objects.
Learning a new language is never easy, but by building confidence, setting up a routine and surrounding yourself with locals you’ll start reaching your goals in no time, and be the expat who integrated into the local community!
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