Study abroad can be a glorious time for foreign language learners: you get the chance for near-full immersion in your target language and the culture that goes with it. But maybe, like me, you’ve been wondering how to keep this level of learning up after you return to the US. Especially if graduation is quickly approaching, keeping up your language skills without school can seem like an insurmountable task. And even if you are still in school, going from using the language constantly to only a few times a week is a difficult transition to adapt to. Here are a few tips for keeping your language skills sharp after studying abroad!
1. Speak!
Skype the friends you made abroad, especially if they’re native speakers! Even Skype sessions with the intent to practice language skills with friends who are also learning can be really fun and useful! Another option is talking to other students you know at your home university who are studying the same language as you! Perhaps there is a language club or group you can join, or create! Try to set up a weekly conversation table where you can just focus on speaking casually and engaging with the language. If setting up an official event is too daunting, just invite a few people you know who want language practice for dinner or coffee! Making casual conversation without the pressure of a classroom environment is a great way to keep the basics of a language fresh. If options are scarce at your school, try going out into your community! Find associations of people who speak your target language in your area and see if they hold meetups or conversation circles! Local libraries, ethnic or cultural organizations, and other groups often hold such events themselves, or can point you in the right direction!
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2. Listen!
Watching movies or TV shows in your target language is one of the most obvious ways to practice listening comprehension. Local libraries can be helpful for finding DVDs, and obviously the internet has tons of content! If you need extra help with comprehension, watch with the target language subtitles on (French subtitles on a French film, for example). This can train your reading comprehension at the same time, and might make understanding the film easier. If you want a shorter time investment, try Youtube! There are videos in your target language that cover all sorts of topics-- language learning videos, vlogs, storytime videos, Let’s Plays, you name it, Youtube has it!
3. Read!
Read newspapers (online or in print from a library) from countries that use your target language. If you're more of the digital type, follow foreign-language news sources on social media! Reading books and comics in your target language is also great practice, and your local library probably has some, or can order some from another library for you! Also, setting your phone, computer, and social media to your target language is really useful, because you're seeing small bits of the language all day!
4. Write!
For me, this is by far the hardest aspect of language to train. Especially if you’re not studying your target language in school, there’s very little incentive for you to write in a foreign language. Try pen pals! Whether you use snail mail, email, or chatting on social media, there are plenty of people out there looking for a tandem language partner! Find a native speaker in the language you’re trying to learn who is trying to learn a language you’re fluent in, and switch off which language you write your letters in each time. Chatting with people online can also be a good way to learn internet slang in your target language and maintain your grip on casual writing. For more intense writing practice, taking courses at your university is always an option! If you've graduated, seek out free or cheap language courses you can take in your area. Maybe your local community college allows students to audit courses? Maybe there’s a free online university program that appeals to you? Without the pressure of a grade or deadline, you can practice your writing in a meaningful way, as intensively or casually as you want!
Hopefully these tips will help you continue to improve your language skills! Some other ways to practice your language are apps like Duolingo or online programs like Rosetta Stone that train all of your skills at once. Returning from studying abroad can be a difficult transition! But with these tips, language loss will be the least of your worries!
