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, it’s no easy task to choose the best place to learn a language or to plan to stay for a long period of time. In this article, we’ll give you a few suggestions on how to choose the perfect place to learn a second language.
Choosing a City
First off, 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 of 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 brief 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:
- How to Travel or Move Abroad
- Teaching English Abroad
- 5 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Going to Live Abroad
- An Expat’s Story of Living in Brazil
Comments