As good as your language software might be, anyone studying a language can derive immense benefits from actual, real-world practice. In fact, some argue that you can’t truly learn a language if you don’t get to practice it in face-to-face interactions with people.
Finding opportunities for practice will abound when you’re in a country that speaks the language. Just befriend a couple of locals and you can likely practice your heart out. Things get a little more dicey, however, when you’re not. It’s not easy to find opportunities to speak Italian when you live in the middle of Nashville, after all. Or Russian when you’re living in Mumbai. And so on.
When you’re in a country that doesn’t speak the second language you’re learning, you’ll want to find ambient opportunities. By that, we mean throwing yourself in situations with slightly higher chances of being around people who speak it. That way, you can engage in small talk, chit-chat and even just a few greetings as a form of practice.
Here are some ideas:
- Cultural centers. If there’s a cultural organization in your area that caters to the nationality who speaks your target language, getting involved with them could really help you. Call them up and ask if they have any events coming up that you can attend, such as art exhibits and theater performances.
- Expat hangouts. Many hotel lobbies and bars are filled with expats of various nationalities. So will certain establishments that cater specifically to foreign clients. Hang out there and you might chance upon potential people to practice with.
- NGOs and volunteer groups. Many volunteer organizations are closely tied with specific nationalities. Do note that you will likely have to volunteer and do actual work for free.
- Ethnic restaurants. These types of establishments are regularly patronized by people from the foreign country the establishment is tied to. If you want to be around many Indians, try an Indian restaurant. Same goes for Japanese, Vietnamese, German and others.
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