How to learn a language fast when studying abroad

One of my biggest problems with speaking a new language is pronunciation, as I want to sound like a native speaker so people can easily understand me.  

Russian speakers, like me, often find it difficult to pronounce the ‘th’ sounds in ‘there’ or ‘through’, but I keep practising because I want to make sure that the conversations I have are clear and avoid any misunderstanding.  

Here are some tips to help you improve your pronunciation: 

• Watch videos or listen to audio and repeat the dialogue. Try to record yourself on a voice recorder, and then compare with the original speech. 

• Listen to the language every day to distinguish between different intonations. 

• Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Instead, ask people to correct you. This is much better than not practising the language out of fear. 

• Don’t be shy. The main thing is to smile more often and talk about general interesting topics. 

• Don't be afraid of your accent and remember that everyone has one.  

New words can be easily forgotten if they are not used regularly. I try to learn words in context, so every time I see or hear a new one, I write it down immediately. I’ll use the dictionary to look up definitions, examples of its use and pronunciation, then make sentences up to help me understand how to use the word in the future.  

Context Reverso is a helpful platform that offers translations in context and in various situations. By memorising the new words, you will enrich your vocabulary to become a better speaker and writer. 

The stronger your vocabulary, the more content you can consume in the language, be it movies, books or just a conversation on various topics.

_{Ayasha making vocabulary notes}

It can be easy to slip back into your native language when you arrive in your new country, especially if others speak it too. Speaking a new language can be scary and if  you struggle to understand a conversation, your first response can be to panic.  

Immersing yourself in a new language is the best way to learn. It’s a steep learning curve but it will definitely get you there faster. Before you arrive, you can immerse yourself in the language in different ways.  

You could read, watch films and TV shows in their original languages, listen to podcasts and speak to people online. When I arrived in Turkey, I started speaking to locals as soon as I could.

_{Ayasha with a friend at Lund University in Sweden}

To make the learning process interesting, combine your new language with your favourite hobbies. If you like dancing, watch dance lessons in a foreign language. If you like to travel, subscribe to travel vlogs. It’s another way to immerse yourself while watching something you’re already interested in.   

I first learned Spanish numbers by watching dance lessons. Uno, dos, tres, cha-cha-cha! 

My first words in French were at ballet lessons as a child in Kazakhstan. My ballet teacher taught us “plié” and “demi plié”, and repeated the words “croisée” and “pas” in pointe shoes. 

It can be daunting trying to learn a new language while preparing to move to an entirely new country, especially if you’re only there for a short period of time. With these tips and some determination, I’m confident you’ll find your way and have a wonderful experience studying abroad.