This post is from Tom over at www.activebackpacker.com.
Who doesn’t want to go overseas, and come back home being able to speak another language fluently? It’s a pretty common dream, right? So what are you waiting for – make it happen! Whether you’re heading to Spain, Germany or France – spending the time to learn the nuances of another language and being able to speak to the locals will add so much to any travel experience.
I always like to point out that learning another language is HARD WORK. A lot of people seem to skim over this fact, as if it is irrelevant. It’s not going to take you overnight, in fact it’s going to take you months. It means hours of intensive study and a sore head whilst your brain tries to take in everything that is happening around you. Give it some credit though, and give yourself the opportunity to make this work. Hitting the pub for a drink once or twice a week and ordering a beer in the local language is not going to do too much for your language skills – sorry!
One thing that I find a positive way to start your new foray into another language is doing an intensive language course. I wouldn’t call them cheap – but if you’re focused on doing this then this is a fantastic way to go about it. It’s generally total immersion (doing it from 9am to 5pm) and then living in the country as well as doing the intensive schooling. You will see results with this if you put in the work required.
One small tip with choosing these courses, think about selecting a town or city that isn’t the “popular” one – what you’ll find is that the popular choices will be full of other English speaking people doing the same thing as you. Great, right? Well it is for your social life – but not so much for immersion and learning that other language that you originally set out to do! So maybe look into some of the smaller options where partying and speaking English won’t take priority over learning that language.
In my opinion, moving to the country that speaks the language you want to learn is one of the best ways to learn. Forget schooling and one night a week study nights at home – go the total immersion route and reap the benefits.
Whatever language you want to learn (in fact, why stop at one?) – have fun with it, 2 months in when you’re having basic conversations – you know that it’s all been worth it.
For more tips on backpacking, living and working abroad – check out Tom’s website: Active Backpacker.
