6 October 2009 4:31pm
Embrace embarrassment – learn a second language!
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So you wanna learn a second language during your stay abroad? Sure, classes, textbooks and flashcards work – but we’ve got some tips for busting through the I-sound-ridiculous-so-I’m-not-going-to-say-anything level to Oh-my-god-I’m-speaking-and-people-understand-me level. It’ll take hard work. There will be tears. It’ll all be worth it, we swear.
Throw pride to the wind. You won’t learn a language if you have an ego. Learning a language means being embarrassed every day you speak it: sputtering out a request for a bus ticket, mispronouncing an innocent word to mean something cringingly naughty, or the very worst – receiving a blank/confused look after delivering what you think is a flawless sentence. Yes, you sound like a two-year-old on laughing gas. Some people may even take you for a lunatic. Who cares? It’s all part of the fun. Embrace it!
Immerse yourself. Seriously jump all the way in. No wading. No water wings (AKA compatriot friends who insist on speaking English). Watch TV, listen to the radio, eavesdrop while on public transportation, strike up random conversations with little old ladies in the park, whatever. It’ll all help you.
Ask for correction. In most cultures it’s rude to correct someone’s speech. You’ll unwittingly keep making the same mistakes unless you straight out ask for people’s help. After they correct you, repeat it back (as many times as possible without scaring people away) to train your ear.
Befriend, befriend, befriend. Join clubs, introduce yourself to neighbours, go out to pubs, ask to join the ultimate frisbee game you pass by in the park. Again, anything goes. Having friends who don’t speak a lick of English are the best (more practice for you!).
Be realistic. Learning a language takes time. A lot of it. It takes decades to master, years to converse without brain frizzle, months to say approximately what you mean, and days to well, get by – if you use LOTS of body language.
Do you always learn the language of the country you’re visiting? Join the debate in the Thorn Tree Forum. If your looking for a handy language guide, choose from one of our 50 phrasebooks.
Comments
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27 October 2009 10:17PM
webgeekstress
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The best advice I ever got was from my high school French and Spanish teacher and is related to the first point ("throw pride to the wind"): go out drinking with native speakers of the language you're trying to learn. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and tends to make people chatty.
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28 October 2009 12:47AM
anahi79
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I agree 100% "throw pride to the wind"
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15 November 2009 12:37AM
yakkalot
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Best advice I ever got was 'Just learn words'. Who cares if your sentence is actually 'ticket bus dollars how many please' locals will usually be overjoyed you're not simply repeating in english even louder 'I-W-A-N-T B-U-S T-I-C-K-E-T or using bizarre sign-language and making an effort to speak their language.
And of course throw shame into the wind and go for gold!
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16 November 2009 6:45AM
queentimely
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We're living in Italy this year -- our home is Western Australia -- and have just transferred our 8-year old daughter from the European School to the local school in Angera, Lombardia. Bless her -- she'll be learning Italian and we'll do our best to support her.
