French people are often known for their poor foreign language skills. You want to go on an Erasmus mobility trip but find it difficult to express yourself in another language? Follow these tips to improve your language skills before your departure. We will particularly focus on Spanish here.
Before your departure
Going abroad often requires a good command of the host country’s language.
Before you leave, set yourself learning objectives. That is to say, immerse yourself entirely in the language you want to improve.
Firstly, watch Tv show or movies in their original version or with French subtitles. This will help you with your oral comprehension of the language. Watching TV or videos in Spanish will help you to assimilate the pronunciation and accentuation of the language. Moreover, learning Spanish by watching Tv shows or movies is more fun and takes a new form of learning.
You can also take a few hours of private lessons before leaving. This will enable you to learn the basics so that you can express yourself more easily in Spanish.
The Internet is another way to improve your Spanish language skills in a cost-effective way. There are many sites that offer free online courses. There are also websites such as Italki which allow you to speak with fluent speakers. You will learn Spanish through video conferences. Applications such as Duolingo will also allow you to learn a language easily on your smartphone.
Finally, you can go to a bookstore and buy exercise books to learn Spanish. This will allow you to read and understand Spanish with the exercises and explanations provided.
Have fun learning a language to improve your Spanish!
Once you are in Spain
For the lucky ones who are going on a mobility trip to Spain, follow these tips once you get there.
First, try and read the regional press to get a feel for the language and news of the country. If you also have access to a television at your accommodation, watch TV news, reports, sports events, Spanish Tv shows or movies in Spanish. Reading newspapers and watching Spanish television will be the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Spain.
Another useful way to get to know Spanish on a daily basis is to put your phone settings in Spanish. You use it every day, so you will know some useful words for your vocabulary.
Then, speak and think in Spanish as often as possible. The most efficient way to speak Spanish is to go to meetings where it’s the main language spoken.
Sharing a flat with Spanish speakers is one of the best ways to improve your language skills. Indeed, you will speak every day in Spanish to communicate with your roommates. Don’t hesitate to ask them to repeat any words you don’t understand.
To learn Spanish or any language in general, have confidence in yourself, don’t put up barriers, dare to express yourself in Spanish!
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