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Mentor Advice

Question

What is a good way to learn a language before going abroad?

2 Replies from Mentors

  • mentor picture Marie
     
    Marie
    Senior Year Student
    Loyola Marymount University
    I decided to take beginning German 101 before I studied abroad in Germany so I could learn grammar...
    I decided to take beginning German 101 before I studied abroad in Germany so I could learn grammar and vocabulary. During the summer I bought language CDs and phrase books. A fun way to learn is by listening to music (look up the lyrics as well as the English) and watching movies and shows in that language (with subtitles).
  • mentor picture Amelia
     
    Amelia
    Senior Year Student
    University of California, Los Angeles
    Going on YouTube.com or other language-teaching websites for a few minutes per day before your...
    Going on YouTube.com or other language-teaching websites for a few minutes per day before your departure is a great way to begin learning a new language. Don't be afraid to practice it aloud or use it when you arrive, despite your self-consciousness about mispronouncing words. It is very important to use whatever you learned because the locals would rather have you use the language and mispronounce than just not even bother to learn anything at all. When you learn the language, it shows initiative and you can use that to your advantage when you want to form relationships or start conversations with people abroad.