Total immersion in the language you’re trying to learn is one of the most effective ways to improve your skills in a short period of time. That being said, choosing the best place to learn a language, or planning to stay for a long period of time can be complicated. In this article, we’ll give you some tips and tricks on how to choose the best place to learn a language!

best place to learn a language 

 

Choosing the Best Place to Learn a Language

1. What to consider

So you’ve decided you want to learn a new language. Great! But what do you do next?

Choosing to move your life across the world in pursuit of education is no easy feat, and it’s a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly! You’ll need to take time to think about several factors in order to make your final decision.

You’ll need to research visa requirements, cost of living, and consider how long you plan to stay. It’s also important to consider smaller, more personal details like weather, public transportation, and making friends!

Making a plan, doing lots of research, and weighing up several options is key to your success and happiness when choosing the best place to learn a new language.

2. Choosing a country

Once you’ve chosen your target language, you’ll need to research which countries the language is spoken in. This may seem like a pretty obvious first step,  but it’s crucial to narrow down which cities you’ll need to focus on when it comes time to delve into the details. It’s best to target countries where the language is a principal or native language.

For example, let’s say you’ve decided to learn French. You have an array of countries to choose from – France (of course!), Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Monaco, Ivory Coast, Switzerland, etc.

But each country will present a very different experience. In France, French is the primary language spoken, giving you a guaranteed immersion. In Belgium, French is spoken in the South and Flemish, a dialect of Dutch, is spoken in the North, which limits where you can immerse yourself in the language.

In Canada, there is a melangé (a blend en Français) of French and English speakers, with a concentration of French speakers living in Quebec speaking a dialect of French called Québécois.

Each country offers an incredible chance to immerse into the language and culture, but it’s important to consider what you want that immersion to look like for yourself. You’ll need to think about dialects, accents, and frequency of use.

Once you’ve researched the countries, and chosen the one you think will be the best fit for your wants and needs, you can move onto the big choice – choosing a city!

3. Factors to think about before choosing a city

So you’ve found the perfect country to learn your new language – yay!

Now it’s time to dig into the details.

  1. What factors will you prioritize when comparing cities?
  2. Which details are most important to you?
  3. Are there any specific goals you want to achieve while you’re abroad?

These questions rely heavily on self reflection, so make sure you take the time to jot down some ideas and think about what you want your life abroad to look like.

Length of stay

One of the first things you’ll need to consider is your length of stay. Is this a sabbatical for you? Or are you considering relocating long term?

You’ll need, at bare minimum, a general idea of your duration of stay. This is important for visa considerations and finances.

Once you’ve got an idea of how long you’ll be abroad you can take a look at the general cost of living in the country you’re interested in relocating too.

You’ll need to consider average rent prices, utilities, groceries, and most importantly, the cost of any language schools or classes you’ll attend! You can give yourself a rough estimate of exactly how much you’ll need to make your dreams come to fruition!

Travel

Travel is a major factor that shouldn’t be overlooked when thinking about your ideal city.

What will it cost to actually get there? Are there resources near you (think airports, train stations, bus routes, etc.) to travel easily? How much do you want to travel?

In Europe especially, you’d be crazy not to take advantage of budget airlines, the fantastic railways, and cheap bus routes that can take you virtually anywhere!

While it is important to make sure you are immersed in the language and culture as much as possible, you should always take the opportunity to travel if it presents itself!

Things to do

Will you spend every waking moment with your nose in a book, learning how to perfectly form sentences in your new language? Of course not! You have to get out and actually use what you’ve learned!

So, what activities do your ideal city have to offer? Are you a night owl on the hunt for the best cocktail in town? Or are you a cinema lover who wants to expand your international film horizon? Or maybe you adore a leisurely stroll around a beautiful park!

Whatever you want your free time to look like, it’s best to consider what cities offer when it comes to community events, the arts, public spaces, etc.

Where will you learn the language?

One of the most important things you need to consider before choosing your city is where you can study the language. While it is possible to just pick up a language through immersion, you’ll have more success (and probably learn a bit faster!) if you take some language classes.

So, researching language schools and courses that are available in each city you’re thinking about is a critical step in finding the best fit for you. Finding a language school or course is a great way to make friends and meet locals.

Oftentimes, schools will host events to explore the city or host language exchanges, which are fantastic ways to ensure quick immersion!

Personal details

Last but not least, think about the personal details for yourself. Seemingly mundane things like the weather, restaurants, and shopping are not necessarily the most important factors to consider, but they do play a major role in your happiness wherever you end up!

 

4. Choosing a city

When choosing the city you would most like to visit, don’t choose the capital city, especially in Europe!

Large, multicultural cities tend to be the most common cities for tourists, students, and professionals who speak more than one language — especially English. There are sometimes even “colonies” of expats, which may sound fun but creates a problem.

Because you’ll naturally connect with people from your own country and spend more time with them, you’ll end up neglecting your learning to speak with and speak like the natives!

As a consequence, your growth in the second language will dramatically reduce. After a while, your social circle will end up looking just like the one in your native country. However, if you decide to go to a smaller city, in which you typically find less foreigners, you will connect and converse more with the locals.

Your main objective is to “force” yourself to practice the language. It’s the only option for communicating naturally and immersing yourself in the culture, which is the fun part!

Starting from zero in another country can be hard, but so is learning a second language. So a few months before you leave, we’d recommend that you start familiarizing yourself with the grammar and sounds of your target language.

You can find many online resources for this, including our free Travel Phrasebooks for just about any language you might be considering. They contain phrases and expressions used in real-life situations, which are perfect for practicing useful vocabulary for daily situations.

We hope this article has been helpful, and we wish you the best of luck in your search for the best place to learn a language!

For More Information

If you’re considering moving abroad for full immersion, you may also be interested in these articles: