One of the most important opportunities students get living abroad is learning the local language. For international students flocking to the US to study, taking their English to full fluency is often the ultimate aim of their excursion. After a student settles into their home stay, how can they start to move toward this goal? This can be a very overwhelming experience, especially for those who have a limited background conversing with native English speakers. However, never fear! There are many ways to grasp the notoriously tricky English language outlined below.

Seize Every Speaking Opportunity 

      Every opportunity to practice speaking a foreign language in a casual setting is one worth seizing. When learning a new language, it is extremely beneficial to practice speaking and listening with friends, where one feels comfortable making mistakes. American English employs a very large amount of colloquialisms and irregular pronunciations--aspects that are hard to grasp via studying textbooks and the classroom environment. Interacting with your host family at the dinner table, the clerk at the store, your teacher after class, or classmates in the hall is the best way to pick these up. During language immersion in the host country, any small chance to talk to an English speaker is not a useless one! If you consistently make use of these situations, your English will benefit greatly. Attaining a better grasp of colloquial speech will also help you reach a better understanding of local culture.

Make Use of English Movies, TV, & Radio

       When not practicing your speaking with locals, watching and listening to English film and radio are fantastic ways to improve. Many people prefer this method, because it doesn’t even feel like you are studying! Solely watching and listening is not as beneficial as speaking with someone, but it is a productive and smart way to spend your down time. Checking out cross cultural Youtube channels like TMD Shanghai or Pero Like are great ways to start. More serious reading meant for English-learners is the Voice of America online publication at learningenglish.voanews.com. They have covered international news in English meant for learners for over 40 years. For films or TV, checking with your host family, friends, or even Rotten Tomatoes' reviews to find out what English shows are worth watching is always a good idea.

Participate in Activities & Clubs

       Many schools offer after-school or extra-curricular activities and clubs, such as sports, chess, or photography. Joining clubs and participating in activities like these are great ways to not only practice your English on a regular basis but also make friends abroad. Some universities also have language clubs (Chinese Club, Spanish Club, etc) that would love to have a native speaker of the language that they study. In addition to schools, many community centers and local associations also sponsor regular activities and clubs--such as local libraries or Rotary Clubs--that are good sources of English-only activities for international students.

Just Ask!

Another important aspect of learning a language abroad is to always be asking questions. For example, if you do not know how to pronounce or say a certain word, just ask! If you are not confident whether or not you are using a word correctly, ask! Most people will be more than happy to help you expand your vocabulary. Furthermore, asking language questions can often spark an interesting conversation, presenting you with yet another opportunity to practice your English. If you follow all these tips during your study abroad, you should be well on your way to English proficiency soon.