Learn How Expats and Global Citizens can Learn a New Language While Living Abroad
By: David Tompkins
Tags: Digital Nomads, Living Abroad, Foreign Language, Language, Global Nomad

Learn How Expats and Global Citizens can Learn a New Language While Living Abroad David Tompkins Jan 9, 2020·5 min read

Are you living abroad as a global nomad or expatriate? Are you keen on challenging yourself and becoming more employable and integrated into your new country’s destination by attempting to learn a new language? Do you want to take your job responsibilities to an all-new level by learning a new language? Or maybe want to learn to speak it before you set out for an expatriate life abroad? Or maybe because you want to read your favorite novel in the language it was first written in. Whatever may be your reason for challenging your potential while living overseas, you would want to, ideally, learn foreign languages fast.

Yet the process of learning a new language right from the scratch is anything but fast. When the initial fervor dies down, the impossibility of memorizing an entire fabric of grammar, recalling new words, vocabulary words, remembering the script and practicing how to speak can take a toll and your interest may hit the bottom. But learning a new language doesn’t have to be that tediously slow a process. Even when nothing replaces the amount of effort and hard work you put in, you can learn a foreign language real fast as an ex-pat and global nomad.

And what’s more. Learning more than one language is a stimulator for your brain.

What is the best way to learn any language?

Here are Top 10 tips for learning a new language and ensuring that you have fun while learning:

1. Be realistic

Don’t feel overwhelmed by the pressures of learning a new language. Get real by setting simple, attainable goals. Begin by picking up 50 words initially and use them with people before you start picking up the grammar. If you don’t feel like it one day, don’t force yourself to do it. Don’t be too hard on yourself by aiming for perfection, aim for progress instead. Making mistakes is the only way to learn. Keep it fun and you will pick up the skill in no time.

2. Make it a part of your lifestyle

Learning a new language requires consistency. Consistency separates the successful from the mediocre. Make learning a language a habit and part of your daily routine.

3. Make a home out of it

The more you incorporate the language into your daily life, the better it will be for your brain to remember by association. Utilize every opportunity to get an overall exposure to the new language.

4. Make use of technology

Seek out structured learning opportunities online. Something as simple as resetting the language on your phone or your browser can help you learn new words right away. There are lots of resources online for ex-pats or global citizen, such as Babbel.

5. Language-learning is a gateway to new experiences

Think about all the fun things you want to do and convert them into a language-learning opportunity. Learning a foreign language opens up avenues and shifts your focus to novel experiences ranging from enjoying cultural folk-rock festivals, visiting theme parks, to learning about photo-essay techniques and learning to recite cowboy poetry.

6. Befriend local people

Find native speakers or pen pals to interact with the new language. Interacting in the new language is fundamental to learning it well. The interaction will teach you to express your thoughts intuitively instead of simply mentally translating each sentence before you say it. Using and living a language is the fastest way to learn. Interacting with locals is always a great thing for global nomads and expatriates.

7. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes

Don’t be apprehensive about holding a conversation with a native speaker. The fear of making mistakes should not become a barrier to conversing in a new language. The more you speak, the closer you will get to achieve the native-like fluency.

8. Experiment with different techniques of learning

Even if the process of making the flashcards is time-consuming, they are immensely helpful. Especially when you travel abroad for work and start learning a new language, these flashcards come in handy. Nonetheless, you need to find a way of learning that works for you.

9. Surround yourself with everything that pertains to the new language

Immerse yourself in the new language. Read books, magazines, articles or listen to podcasts or radio in your new language. Watching films in your new language with English subtitles familiarizes you with how the language sounds.

10. Consistency

Spend 15 minutes every day on your new language, either to use your language apps, read a bit or event chat with some native speakers online. You don’t have to overwhelm yourself with the quantity. Learn in small portions. It triggers your brain to recall and retrieve information a lot better.

Final Thoughts for Global Citizens Learning a Language

So go ahead, try to experience life abroad as a global nomad, digital nomad, expat or global citizen — whatever you want to call yourself. Learning the local language will help you improve your life abroad and even assist your career at the same time.

If you are learning a new language while living abroad, you also need to obtain global health coverage as the local plans may not cover you or may only cover you with limited services in your new home country. Make sure that you can get a global health plan that is fully functional in your home country language or at least a language that you understand. Most international health plans are in English, but some of the plans that we offer are available in Spanish, German and French.