8.8k shares SHARE TWEET SMS SEND EMAIL It’s that time of year again when students from universities all across America are making their way to various study abroad sites. Studying abroad is an exciting and challenging time in a student’s academic career, but those who travel to non-Anglophone countries usually face an added challenge — the language barrier. This extra challenge is not as daunting as it seems, as there are simple ways to improve your language competence before you leave and even during your time abroad. Whether you need to brush up on the language skills you already have or you’re starting from scratch, these five activities can help you boost your language abilities. 1. Watch TV shows or movies. Watching TV shows or movies in the language of your host country is a great way to improve your listening skills, plus it is an opportunity to get used to the speed at which people speak. Lisa Drusedum, a junior at Kutztown University, only spoke a bit of Italian before shemedia accounts. While you may not be walking around saying “one text message” or “accept friend request” in daily conversations, changing the language of your phone and social media accounts can be helpful. By switching the language on her Facebook and iPhone to Spanish, McCulloch was able to learn new words and stop herself from thinking in English. “Not only did it teach me new vocabulary, it also allowed me to continue thinking in Spanish as I wasn’t reading in English every time I received a notification,” McCulloch says. You can change the language of your Facebook account by selecting “Settings” and then “Language.” For Twitter, go to “Settings” and then “Account”. For smartphones, visit your settings to do the same. Erin McCulloch ’16 snaps a photo in front of her school, Centro Universitario de Estudios Hispánicos de Hamilton College, in Madrid. (Photo courtesy of Erin McCulloch) 3. Download apps that will help you practice. Apps for your smartphone often offer a sufficientoverview of a language, including common words and phrases. Fred Gard, a Syracuse University junior, used the popular app to improve his French before he studied in Strasbourg, France. Gard says, “These [apps] helped with the verbs and other vocabulary, but it separated the two and was easier to review section by section.” If you want to try Gard’s approach, Duolingo is not your only option. The iTunes store and Google Play have hosts of language learning apps available for download. Half-timbered houses in La Petite France in Strasbourg, France (Photo courtesy of Fred Gard ’16) 4. Listen to music. Kelsey Cook, a junior at Arcadia University, prepared for her semester in Paris, France by listening to French music. Cook’s advice to students? “Find popular music and recent hits from the country you are traveling to,” Cook says. “Listening to French music really helped me learn French slang and popular French phrases.” McCulloch agrees that listening to music is helpful. “While in Spain Ionly listened to music in Spanish because I noticed that whenever I listened to a song in English, I tended to revert to thinking in English again, which I obviously wanted to avoid,” she says. A simple Google search will get you on your way to jamming in the language of your host country. Kelsey Cook ’16 poses in front of the Eiffel Tower during her semester in Paris, France. (Photo courtesy of Kelsey Cook) 5. Talk to native speakers. One of the best ways to improve your language skills is to converse with native speakers. They are the only people you can really trust to answer your questions and correct your mistakes. McCulloch says, “I tried to befriend and spend time with native speakers rather than my American friends to improve my language skills.” Gard did the same, and took advantage of the native speakers’ help. “I would ask questions about the vocabulary that [the native speakers] used,” Gard says. “They would correct my French from time to time as well. This also helped mepick up more of the accent as we talked.” While practicing with a native speaker might seem intimidating, Gard says, “Many people in Strasbourg spoke slower and were willing to hear my incorrect French and interpret what it meant before answering, questioning, or correcting what I said in order for me to get better.” Similarly, Drusedum says, “The Italians were more than accommodating and always made an effort to adjust to be able to communicate with [American students].” So when you arrive in your host country, talk to strangers. This might be the opposite of the advice you heard as a child, but the strangers are the ones who can help you this time. is a junior at Arcadia University and is a spring 2015 collegiate correspondent. , , , , , 8.8k shares SHARE TWEET SMS SEND EMAIL Related Stories Comments