Learning a New Language: Strategies for Success When Moving Abroad

No matter where you’re from or where you’re headed, moving abroad can be an incredible experience. But if you don’t speak the local language, it can also be a challenging one. Fortunately, there are many strategies you can put in place to make learning a new language easier.

If you’re ready to pack your bags and move to a foreign country, keep reading. Here are seven strategies for learning a new language to make your move abroad a successful one.

Set a Goal

Many people find that the simple act of setting a goal motivates them to achieve it. However, if your ultimate goal is to become fluent in French, that can seem like an overwhelming challenge that could take you months or even years to achieve. Instead, consider setting mini goals, such as:

• Learn ten new French words today
• Learn five new French phrases this week
• Read one article in French today
• Watch a French movie or television show this weekend

Goals can motivate you, help you track your progress, and keep you accountable — all important aspects of learning a new language.  

Start by Learning the Most Basic Words

Whether you decide to enroll in classes, hire a language tutor, or teach yourself via apps, translation technology, or online instruction, the first step in learning a new language is to master key words and phrases.  

Start by learning 100 core vocabulary words. These should be common words that are part of everyday language in every language, such as:

• Yes
• No
• Please
• Thank you
• What
• Where
• How
• Man
• Woman
• Friend
• Hot
• Cold
• Good
• Bad
• Help
• Police
• Fire

 

Commit the most basic words to memory and practice and test yourself on them regularly until they’re firm in your mind. At that point, set a goal to learn additional words and common phrases.  

Learn more common words and phrases in this article from FluentU.

Learn Basic Phrases

Once you’ve learned some key vocabulary words, start learning key phrases so that you can hold simple conversations. Phrases like where is the bathroom, what is your name, how are you, how much does this cost, and how do you say X will get you far.

Fully Immerse Yourself in the Language

It’s much easier to learn a new language when you fully immerse yourself in the culture. If you’re already living abroad, you may find yourself reverting to your native language any chance you can (because it’s easy). However, you’ll learn a new language faster if you listen to music, read books, watch movies, and participate in events in the local language.

Immersing yourself in the culture and surrounding yourself with people who speak the language will give you ample opportunities to learn.

Practice the Language Daily

Memorizing vocabulary words and everyday phrases isn’t enough — you’ll also need to get comfortable speaking the language. No matter how few or how many words and phrases you know, practice speaking aloud daily. Whether you do so in the privacy of your own home or out in public with native speakers, do it every single day with no exceptions.  

If you’re already living abroad or working amongst native speakers, seize every opportunity you can to utilize your new language skills with colleagues, shop clerks, neighbors, taxi drivers, and anyone else you have a chance to engage with. And don’t be intimidated by the fact that you might make mistakes — you definitely will!

Trying to learn a new language before you apply for work in a foreign country? This article from International Citizens Group provides valuable information on working abroad.  

Focus on Listening

A key factor in learning a new language is mastering the pronunciation of words and the intonations and rhythms that native speakers use. You’ll never pick that up through a book, but you can learn that important aspect simply by listening to native speakers. Understanding what you’re hearing is equally as important as knowing how to say what you want to say.

Read and Write in the New Language as Much as Possible

To be considered fluent in a language you must be able to speak it and be able to understand it when you hear it, but you also must be able to read and write it.  

Reading in the new language is key, as it will help you identify grammatical structures and spelling. Start by reading simple things like menus, street signs, or online blog posts or social media posts in the language you want to learn.

It’s also important to practice writing in the new language as much as you can. Simple things like grocery lists and to-do lists are a great place to start. Writing will help you memorize words and improve and perfect your spelling and grammar at the same time.  

In Conclusion

Learning a new language can seem like an overwhelming task, but if you’re diligent, focused, and motivated, it can be a lot easier than you think.

Set goals. Focus on learning common words and phrases first. Fully immerse yourself in the culture, listen to native speakers, practice daily, and read and write as much as possible. With these strategies in place, you can become fluent in a foreign tongue in a matter of months.