Immersion is often recommended as a fast way to learn a new language. It can be hard, especially in the country with less support. These tips will help you
One: Learn essential phrases, and words before you go.
Just like preparing a recipe for dinner, you need to make sure you have all the ingredients before you start.
You need to make sure you have some essential phrases, mainly for safety and emergencies before you immerse yourself in a new country.
This ensures that in a moment of panic, you’re not scrambling through your guidebook or dictionary or translator app on your phone.
Knowing some phrases before you go also gives you confidence to practice them, and confidence to learn new ones there!
Two: Listen before you speak
Learning a new language means your brain is going to take a minute to process what you are hearing.
My recommendation, when listening to native speakers, is to take your time listening before replying.
There are words that sound similar and that can change the meaning of what you are hearing. A common one in French is fish and drink (poisson and boisson)
While this method is not foolproof, it can help eliminate a number of them.
It also gives you a chance to prepare a response in your brain if you leave a gap between them talking and you talking.
Three: Don’t be afraid to ask if they speak English.
There are some situations that require comprehension on both parties.
Anything medical or safety related definitely qualifies.
A number of positions, especially in tourist areas in Europe, employees can speak both English and the local language.
Consider this situation: would you rather be stuck in a town because you ordered the wrong ticket? At the beginning of your trip this situation is more likely but as you practice and learn, you’ll be able to need English less!
There will be plenty of circumstances where you will have a chance to practice your language knowledge but not every situation will be this way.
Four: Preparation is key.
I know I mentioned learning some essential phrases for the first tip, but when going into a new environment, prepare some new words for just that situation.
Consider when you go to a grocery store, they’re going to ask if you want paper or plastic bags, or if you need a receipt, and give you a total in numbers. Practicing your numbers and doing some math before getting to the counter ensures that you will have enough money and not hand a 5 note when they said 15.
*Germany and Switzerland both have inclusive pricing which means that tax has already been calculated, so the number of 1,58 CHF is what you’ll pay at the counter!
Five: Consider context.
Similar to number four with preparation, some words and phrases will not be used in other contexts.
You’ll hear about a receipt in a restaurant or store. You’ll hear about food in a restaurant, but not at the laundromat.
When words sound similar, remembering the context in which you heard them helps make sure you translate them or use them correctly.
Six: Give Yourself Grace
Immersion is difficult even when you have a basic language foundation.
Native speakers have different accents, colloquialisms, or different ways of saying words that aren’t the same as you learn in a classroom.
Consider even in the United States, going from the West Coast to the East Coast or even to the South, English is spoken but sounds so different! There’s soda, pop, and Coke for just a quick example.
Seven: Observe the locals.
People watching is an easy way to learn local quirks.
While this tip doesn’t necessarily work for spoken language, it does for body language.
Observe the locals and how they behave.
Like, are they extra smiley with everybody or are they more likely to use simple polite nods?
Americans often stand out abroad because we smile at everyone; it’s not the same in Germany.
Another example is when I lived in Berlin, if you wore bright colors you stood out because the locals mostly wore black.
Body language and unspoken cues are still part of language even if they’re not auditory.
While these tips are not exhaustive of everybody’s immersive experience, I hope they help your next adventure. The adventure you are considering is going to be that, and adventure.
Let me know below which tips surprise you the most or which one will help you on your next journey abroad.
