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Language courses abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

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Language courses abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

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What is a language course?

  • A language course is a series of lessons in which you learn the basics of a language in a short period of time.
  • The average duration of a language course is 50 to 100 hours spread over several weeks or months
  • A language course differs from a language study mainly in having a lower intensity, lower study pressure and less focus on the scientific side of a language
  • A language course normally costs an amount comparable to other courses. Sometimes you can “trade” a language course by taking lessons from someone who wants to learn to speak your language
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Why learn a language and take a language course abroad?

  • Helpfulness: once you speak a local language somewhat you are immediately better able to communicate with the person you would like to help, and can also make yourself more helpful
  • Involvement: once you speak another person's language you become closer to that person. It strengthens your sense of being involved, and part of the local culture
  • Experience: going abroad to learn a language is one way to get out of your comfort zone
  • Creativity: learning a language is a way to better use your creativity. For example while searching for descriptions or using hands and feet
  • Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself in a different way of speaking and often a different way of thinking
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What do you need to learn a language and take a language course abroad?

  • Being environmentally aware: no matter where you are taught you will always have to consider your surroundings. Each country has its own rules and customs that you will have to follow to a certain extent.
  • Be organization-conscious: every school or educational institution also has its own teaching method or vision on education. Also consider the limitations/challenges some schools face due to lack of funding or facilities.
  • Communication ability: already some prior knowledge of the local language is not a must but a great advantage
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To what extent are you insured when taking a language course or a language year abroad?

  • What are the risks?
    • Your health insurance coverage may expire if you go to work abroad, for example
    • You may become homesick and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do to prevent this and prepare for it!
    • You may have problems with the organization you are going abroad with (read more about solving problems abroad
  • What are the consequences if you end up in the hospital, for example?
    • If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay for the costs yourself if you do not have insurance that covers your activities.
  • Are you insured during a language course abroad?
    • A language course abroad will be within your current travel and health insurance if you are not going abroad for too long, will not be doing any paid work or special activities. In other cases, special insurance is often recommended or sometimes necessary
  • Read more
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How to select a language course or language institute?

  • Determine your goals: what level do you want to reach? what level is required of you? do you want to meet new people? do you want to combine the language course with other activities abroad?
  • Determine your commitment: how many hours per week or per day do you want to spend learning a language, do you want to decide for yourself when you will study? Do you want to start practicing the language before you leave for abroad? Do you want to apply your skills to the local population immediately after your language lesson?
  • Experience shows that the fastest leaps forward are made when intensive local language lessons are combined with a stay with a host family who speaks the local language.
  • Online courses can be used well to lay a small foundation, to refresh your knowledge, when your budget is a bit smaller, or for example when you have little spare time or are staying far from the language school.
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Where is the best place to go for a language course, or to learn a language abroad?

  • Learn Chinese in China: e.g. in Beijing
  • Learn German: in Gemany (Berlin, Munich), Austria or Switzerland
  • Learn English abroad: Australia (Sydney), England (Brighton, Cambridge, London), Canada (Toronto), Ireland (Dublin), United States (New York, San Francisco), Malta, South Africa (Cape Town)
  • Learn French in France: Biarritz; Nice, Paris, or in Switzerland
  • Learn Italian in Italy: Florence, Rome, Siena, Venice
  • Learn Japanese in Japan: Tokyo or Kyoto 
  • Learn Spanish in Spain: Barcelona, Granada, Málaga, Madrid, San Sebastian, Seville, Tenerife, Valencia
  • Learn Spanish in the Caribbean: Cuba or the Dominican Republic
  • Learn Spanish in Central America: Costa Rica (Turrialba), Guatemala (Antigua) or Panama (Bocas del Toro)
  • Learn Spanish in South America: Argentina (Bariloche, Buenos Aires), Ecuador, Colombia or Peru (Cusco, Arequipa)
  • Learn Swahili in Africa: Kenya (Kilifi), Tanzania (Zanzibar)
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Courses & Workshops
Cultures & Languages
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