Archive for the ‘Language Travel Tips’ Category
Friday, October 2nd, 2009
Meals and hygiene are two important components of everyday life : if you are going to live in an American host family, these advices below may be very useful!
American Meals
There are usually 3 meals in the typical American day:
Breakfast
Taken around 8am, breakfast is usually coffee or milk, with toasts, butter and marmalade, or cereals with milks, and orange juice. This is a very important meal, don’t skip it!
Lunch
Usually taken between 12am and 1pm, it is a quick meal, except on Sunday: Hamburger, hot-dog… Usually, you have to help yourself out in the fridge or go to the local fast food.
Dinner (or supper)
The American family doesn’t meet often to take this meal. It can be a pizza or a hamburger everyone eats when hungry. However, more traditional families take a real dinner together, eaten between 6 and 8 pm, with salad, meat, vegetables, dessert…
Don’t be afraid if your family doesn’t offer to prepare your meals: they will tell you to help yourself out and you should not hesitate to do so!
On Saturday and Sunday, in most families, breakfast and lunch will be replaced by a lunch, a “big breakfast”, that will be taken around 11am. On these days, there will be a dinner like the other days.
American people eat a lot of beef or chicken meat, but usually meals are balanced. Since people usually eat a lot of snacks between the meals, you will have to pay attention not to eat too much.
You should at least try to taste everything that is offered for you. And always thank your hostess and congratulate her for what she has prepared!
About clothes
Hygiene is a really important matter in the US: take it seriously!
- In most families, there will be several washings a week: ask to your family when you should give your clothes to wash it, and even offer your help to do it since usually washing machines are easy to use there: be sure to have understood how the machine works first!
American people really take cleanliness seriously. They would be bothered if you or your clothes were not clean: pay attention to this point: change your clothes and take a shower everyday.
We hope this information have been useful: don’t hesitate to share your experience with us!
Tags: academic year abroad, food, Host family, learn english, learn languages abroad, life abroad, travel abroad, USA
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Monday, September 28th, 2009
Want to get general information about American life, especially in an American host family? This article is for you!
About customs
If you get in touch with the police, always stay calm and polite. 
Regarding clothes, American are very tolerant, but monokinis are forbidden.
You have to behave really carefully with people of the opposite sex, since something that would be considered as usual in a Latin country could lead you to the Court in the USA!
In many American States, weapon’s possession is legal. It is highly recommended to stay calm in all situations.
People less than 21 can’t smoke or drink, and are not allowed to buy such things. If they want to do so, they will have to prove their age. Smoking is not really appreciated in the US and is strictly forbidden in many places.
Social life
Social life and communities are a really important component of American society. As an ambassador of another country, you will arouse a lot of interest, maybe you will even be interviewed by a local television: always answer positively to such manifestation of interest!
American houses
Most American houses are made of wood.
American houses are generally open: the kitchen, dining room and living room often communicate.
In most houses, toilets are in the bathroom. So, if a member of your American host family tells you he has to go to the bathroom, he may not be speaking of having a shower!
Most American houses have a front and backyard, and the front yard often communicates with neighbors’one.
American Host Families in Florida
Florida is home to many hispanic families. If you are going there, you may see the parents speaking Spanish, and the children speaking English: it is a good opportunity to practice both languages!
Sundays
In many families, Sundays are dedicated to church. Even if you don’t share your family’s beliefs, if they offer you to accompany them to the service, they would be pleased to make you discover their own culture. Your family could not understand your refusal to accompany them. However, if they are “proselyte”, don’t hesitate to signal it to your local coordinator if that bothers you too much and make you feel uncomfortable.
Distances
USA are a big country: you will have to use public transportation a lot, and expect journeys of around 60 to 90 minutes!
If you have other useful information about American life, don’t hesitate to share it with us!
Tags: academic year abroad, cultural shock, english, food, fun, Host family, learn english, learn languages abroad, study abroad, tips, USA
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Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
You are flying to the USA soon and will be living with an American host family? Here are some information you should know before departure in order to get along well with your family!
Think of yourself as an ambassador of your own country!
When you will be in the USA, you will represent your country, so your behaviour abroad will help forge an image of your fellow citizens abroad: be proud of it but don’t act like your country is better than the USA : they are just different countries. American are really proud of their country, and they wouldn’t understand if you were not proud of your own!
Share your culture and your feelings!
Once in your family, you will see they want you to feel comfortable, like a true member of the family. Call your host parents the same way their children do.
Offer your help!
Being a host doesn’t mean you should act like you are in a hotel: offer your help for little chores like walking the dog out, dressing the table… In addition to please your family, these little chores will be good occasion to communicate with your American host family!
Share some expenses!
A good way to show that you are well educated is to share some expenses. If the family takes you out, always offer to pay your own expenses like tickets. You can also offer some flowers or a little present to your host mother. A round of ices will surely please everyone too!
Open yourself to your American host family!
Bring some pictures of your family or life abroad: you will be able to explain your everyday life to your American host family!
Don’t stay alone in your room, it could be misinterpreted by your host family. If you are tired and want to rest, inform your family.
If your family offers you to participate in activities, always accept it. If you say “no” to be polite, your family will take this “no” for what it is, I.e, a “no”. Don’t waste opportunities!
If your American host family has young children, try to have fun or play with them!
Pay attention to misunderstandings and misinterpretations: some expressions like “it’s stupid”, that you could say innocently, could be misinterpreted by your host family.
Be autonomous
In your family, if there is a teenager, it is likely he will have a job: Americans are encouraged toward financial independence, and having a job, especially during summer, is something usual.
Your American host family will have already thought of the problems such a situation could give, and may have associated friends and family so you won’t be alone!
Your American host family will expect your to be able to take care of yourself.
If you are an enthusiast and open-minded host, you will be able to integrate yourself quickly to your American host family and you will live a wonderful experience!
Tags: academic year abroad, cultural shock, Host family, learn english, learn languages abroad, tips, USA
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Friday, September 18th, 2009
You are going to best hosted by an Irish or British host family, and you are a little bit afraid of what to expect? Here are some general advices about the behaviour that the family with expect from you, as well as general information about life in England and Ireland.
Bristish and Irish families specificities:
-In many families, there will likely be a pet. Don’t be disrespectful toward it.
-You are an ambassador of your country abroad so don’t forget to stay polite and have a perfect behaviour! For example, ask to the family before doing any action like switching on the TV, inviting friends…
-Ask to your host family what is the most appropriate time for you to take your shower.
-Usually British and Irish families host students on a regular basis. This allows to get a better knowledge of the family, even if the hosting is not always as spontaneous as when the family is volunteer.
-Always be polite and ask nicely to repeat if you haven’t understood something.
-Don’t contradict your hosts, this wouldn’t be decent. If the family organizes some activities for you, thank them!
-Sunday is a special day in UK. British people like to take it slow on that day: they go to the religious service, meet family or friends… Enjoy it and use this special occasion to get to know better your hosts! Lunch will be served later on that day, around 2pm. The traditional Sunday meal would be Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding. At the end of the day, British people usually have sandwiches and cakes made for the occasion.
-Regarding religion, most Irish families are Roman catholic, whereas British families tend to be Anglican. Scottish people are generally Presbyterian, and the Welshs are generally Methodists.
About general life in England and Ireland:
-Whatever the season is, it is highly recommended to bring a cloth item to protect you from the rain. The general temperature is 15.5° (Celsius) in summer, and room are usually not heated a lot, so don’t forget to bring items to keep you warm!
-Banks are usually opened from 9.30am to 4pm. In big cities they will likely be open on Saturday, whereas in the rural areas they will be closed.
-Post offices are opened from Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 5.30 pm, except on Saturdays where they closed at noon.
-Shops are opened from 9am to 5.30 pm generally. It is recommended to keep your receipts so you won’t have any problem or misunderstandings while leaving a shop.
-Don’t forget that in the UK and in Ireland, people drive on the left side of the road!
-To be able to enter a pub, you have to be 16 years old at least. However, if your host family goes to lunch in the pub, you will be able to accompany them, even if you’re not 16. Pubs generally close at 11pm.
-Coin machines near the beaches always attract suspicious-looking people. Try to avoid these places. Also, clubs and pubs surroundings around close time are also a place to avoid.
-If you are travelling with a group of foreigners, try to avoid speaking loudly in the public transports. You would be targeted as an easy prey to thefts.
I hope these advices and information have been useful for you!
Tags: academic year abroad, advices, cultural shock, english, Ireland, learn english, learn languages abroad, life abroad, london, package, uk
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Sunday, September 13th, 2009
You are going to Ireland or to England, and you will be hosted by a local host family? Here are some useful information and advices related to food and meals!
About meals!
Generally, there are 3 meals in the UK:
-Breakfast: you will generally have cafe or tea, cereals with milk, toast with butter/marmalade. Breakfast is a serious business in the UK: don’t hesitate to eat a lot since the lunch will likely be light!
-Lunch: usually taken around 1pm, this is generally a light meal. A typical lunch would be a sandwich, potato chips, a little cake, a fruit, fruit juice, sweets like candy bars… In most homestay, the family will provide you this lunch. If you are a “big” eater, you should try to take pocket money in order to be able to buy more food.
-Tea or Dinner: The evening meal is served early, around 5.30 or 6pm. This is the most important meal of the day. Generally speaking, you will eat a main dish followed by a dessert. In most English host families, your dish will already be served when you will sit at the table! If you are home after 6 pm, it is really likely the family will have already eaten. Since Britannic consider as impolite to watch their host eating when themselves have already eaten, you will likely eat alone.
Other generalities about food in UK and Ireland:
-Red meat is not eaten a lot in UK due to its high price. You will more likely eat chicken, turkey, pork or sheep. Meat is usually served with a brown dressing called “gravy”
-Generally, vegetables are boiled
-Bristish and Irish people don’t use a lot of fruits, but they love “sweets” like puddings, cake, syrup fruits with custard…
-Usually, there is neither bread nor water at the table. If you want some, you will have to ask to the family.
Expected behaviour!
Here are some information and advices on how to behave during meals in English and Ireland.
- Your hosts will be pleased if you helped with little household chores, like dressing the table. You also have to make your bed and keep the common places you’re using clean!
- Always be on time, and advise the family if you think you are going to be late for a meal.
- If asked about what you are served, be honest but tactful.
- Regarding manners, don’t be surprised if you see your hosts loadings their forks or having their hands under the table. British and Irish manners likely are different from the one of your country!
- At the end of your meal, put your knife, fork and spoon on your dish, but don’t cross them
- Meals are usually taken rather quickly. The family rather gathers in the salon afterward with a cup of tea to do the conversation.
- Above all, be open and try to taste everything! Never forget to congratulate your hostess for what she has prepared, she will appreciate it!
Have you other advices to share with us? Don’t hesitate to do so!
Tags: academic year abroad, advices, cultural shock, food, Host family, Ireland, language abroad, learn english, learn language abroad, learn languages abroad, study abroad, Testimonials, tips, travel abroad, uk
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Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
You definitively want to earn credits with your language course abroad. Don’t worry; it can be really simple, as long as you organize the procedure in advance!
Whether you are thinking to go with a well structured program or are planning a more adventurous trip, choose carefully where you want to go. If you want to get academic recognition, you will have to attend academic courses in a College or University abroad (or equivalent educational structure) in most cases. Some programs, like volunteer ones, or language schools, may also allow you to get academic credits. Carefully choose yours!
Once you know where you want to go and which program you intend to choose, you will have to gather as many information as possible about the academic courses you will attend abroad, or the tasks you will have to do if you are volunteering!
Also, check how your school transfers credits: it this a common policy, or are they more reluctant in giving out credits for academic programs abroad? Once you’ll have this information, try to prepare a short description of each course you will attend once abroad.
Get in touch with the adequate academic department before departure is very important: even if one of the courses you are going to attend is not recognized by your faculty, try to see with the counterpart department if they can offer you credits for this course.
For example, if you have chosen to attend a course called “ French history through Poetry”, if your Faculty of History is not interested in giving you credits, the Foreign Literature department may be!
Once abroad, don’t forget to go to courses, and above all, enjoy your stay!
Keep all documents that you will be given in classes, since they will be able to act like proof of your academic learning abroad.
Once back home, get your credits validated! Keep in mind the following advices: you will have to do the same procedure, by trying to get your courses abroad validated by departments. This time, you will already have attended courses and gotten grades. Also, you will have documents and proofs of the academic content of the courses attended.
Even if none department wants to recognize your program abroad (which is very unlikely if you have followed the steps above), stay positive and don’t forget that your experience abroad has given you unique skills that few of your schoolmates will have!
Some additional tips to get credits with study abroad programs:
Courses that require a certain amount of writing or research are usually granted credit once back home. If you need a certain amount of credits, be sure to include some courses that will give you credits back home no matter what.
Always keep your paperwork and bring them back home: you could find them useful if you have to prove the academic content of your courses.
Some courses abroad may use really different methods of teaching, and bring you out of classroom: even if these courses can be the most interesting ones, they can also be the harder ones if you need to get academic credit for them: gather as many documents as you can for these ones, and even ask for a letter from your teacher abroad! Also, never forget that perseverance pay off!
Remember, studying abroad is a unique opportunity, and even if you don’t get credits for your study abroad, you will have learned so much that you will quickly forget about that!
Tags: college credit, credit, study abroad, tips, travel abroad, university credit
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
You are planning to do a language program or an academic year abroad, but you are not sure about the process to get credits from these courses abroad? Follow the simple steps below and get credits from your High School program abroad!
Step 1 : Choose your program!
The first step is to choose your program, its length and the country you are going to visit! Are you planning to go to France and live in a family for 2 weeks, or going to a whole academic year in Costa Rica? The decision is really important, since the length, type of program and destination are the main factors that will be considered to give you credits.
Step 2: Gather information!
Once you have decided where and with which program you want to travel abroad, gather as much information as possible about the school system, classes, grade system etc. … With the help of this information, you will be able to create a simple report of your program abroad, with classes you expect to attend abroad.
Step 3: Meet your High School counselor!
This is a very important step. Your High School counselor is here to help you and advise you the best he can about your plan to study abroad. You need to be able to give him/her a clear and objective presentation of your study abroad program. He/she will be the one that will decide to give you High School credits or not. You can also speak with your language teacher and try to involve him/her in the procedure, especially if he/she encourages you to study abroad or has a good knowledge of the educational system abroad.
Step 4 : Gather information, once again, and until departure!
After your meeting with your counselor, it is likely that you will have to prepare more documents, to assert that your program abroad will follow your school district requirements. During this step, always be in touch with your counselor and don’t hesitate to ask him/her if you are not sure of something!
Step 5 : Study seriously!
Well, it may seem to be obvious, but it is highly advised to attend courses seriously and do your homework, as if you were at home, in order to get good grades abroad. Send to your US school’s counselor your final choice of courses and level of classes, to get his/her final approval.
Step 6: Collect the right documents!
When your program abroad will be almost finished, don’t forget to speak with your teachers and school principal abroad. Even if they must have documents to fill for you since your arrival, it is better to remind them that you have to bring back home these papers with you, so that they don’t forget to fill them out!
Step 7: And never forget that…
If everything goes well, you should get High School credits for your program abroad.
But if you don’t get these credits, never forget that your experience abroad will be highly valuated by colleges, universities and employers: speaking another language and being fluent with another culture is a tremendous asset nowadays, and you will get “life credits” from it anyway!
Tags: academic year abroad, Add new tag, advices, credits, high school credit, learn languages abroad, tips, travel, travel abroad
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Saturday, August 29th, 2009
Here are three other testimonials from Canadian students: one from Emma, who participated in an Academic Year Program in Germany, and two other from Kelly’s mother and Jennifer, who participated in our language courses in France.
”Student exchange program ‘wonderful’ experience” ( Joel Jacobson)
This article has been published in The Chronicle Herald from Nova Scotia, in September 2007, and is about Emma’s experience in Germany with Nacel.
Emma Reid of Halifax, Nova Scotia, participated in the Nacel Canada Academic Program (2006-2007). Upon her return, she says the experience in Germany was “wonderful‘. She continues to qualify there was an adjustment period for herself and her host family. Emma had minimum exposure to the German language before her departure.
“My schoolwork was impossible for me to keep up with, and my language problems weren’t helping me in any way. Then, one of her teachers in Germany turned things around. In one of my first German French Grade 11 classes, my teacher helped many of my classmates get to know me much better. He told us he had brought a newspaper article written about me. I was a little puzzled, considering the only newspaper article about me I could recall was the Great Kids piece written before I had even left Canada. He explained that friends of his were vacationing in Canada and were in Halifax the day the article was published. They saw that I would be attending the gymnasium school (in Trittau, near Hamburg) where my French teacher taught, so they brought the article home to him. He shared it with my classmates. Though it was a French lesson, I spent that entire class working on our English translating skills. They learned about my interests and background, a great way for them to get to know me, especially considering my poor German skills. It was a wonderful start to making friends.”
As the year progressed Emma’s German language skills greatly improved and her involvement in various activities also, turning it into a great success. Her host family enjoyed showing her their country, they travelled at all points of Germany. She misses the bakeries and enjoyed the directness of the people. ‘They don’t beat around the bush but say what they think,” say Emma. Now that she is back home, she feels because of her experience she could get along anywhere. “The experience was wonderful. I became much more independent. I’d recommend to anyone. I certainly opened my eyes and showed me people are not all that different. Yes, I was glad to get home, but kind of sad to leave my new friends, too.”
This is an email from the mother of Kelly, from British Colombia. She participated to our Language courses in France in 2005
” I just want to drop you a little note to say that Kelly’s trip to Lyon was outstanding. She loved Ludo (the Tutor) and she truly bonded with her French family. She is just full of stories and grand memories. She didn’t think that she actually learned much French from the classes but she certainly learned a lot from living in that environment - not only in comprehension but in her confidence to speak French and confidence in general. This trip further developed admiration and interest to learn more about the French and the French culture.” wrote Mrs. Sharp August 4th, 2005 via email
.
Kelly is currently in France, Academic Trimester Program in Boarding School September to December 2007 trough Nacel. She is happy with her weekend host family and the school. She is hoping to further her studies in Montreal next September.
Here are some excerpts from a letter to Nacel from participant Jennifer, living in Edmonton Alberta, and who participated in our Tutorial in France in 2005.
… “Overall, I gained experience and pleasure during my time in France-I enjoyed the tutor sessions (my tutor: Guilmette) immensely, and the excursions were excellent for learning about French history and culture”.
Jennifer continued to write ‘ I feel that I returned from France with a new sense of mind, and greater control over the French language. I can speak faster, and more fluently-although I’m nowhere near perfect-and I have had a glorious time reciting my many experiences to my friends and family.”
… my host parents “were very welcoming and accepting of my cultural differences, were always attempting to help me learn more about the French. My host-brothers also communicated in a proficient and friendly manner, as well-they were very welcoming.”
Did you like these testimonials? Don’t hesitate to share your experience abroad too!
Tags: academic year abroad, Add new tag, cultural shock, english, fun, Host family, International High School, language abroad, learn english, learn language, learn languages abroad, life abroad, study abroad, Testimonials, tips
Posted in Academic Year Programs, Homestay, Host family, Language Travel Testimonials, Language Travel Tips, Tips to learn languages | No Comments »
Monday, August 24th, 2009
You will find below the testimonial of 2 Canadian students who participated in Nacel’s programs! Discover how their experience abroad with Nacel was!
David, Academic Year Program in France
This testimonial has been published in Stettler Independent, a newspaper, in August 2005 and is about David’s experience in France.
“A different kind of education” (Laura Drake, reporter)
David of Stettler, Alberta spent an academic year in France (2004 - 2005), in the Brittany region as part of Nacel Canada’s Academic Programs. Though he chose to delay graduating from high school to participate in the program, David quotes ‘It was a great experience and I’ve taken a lot from it”. He does admit it took him about a month to adjust to the language, “I had a good vocabulary but putting it together so I made sense took about a month”. Though school kept him busy, he also found time to do some tourist things with his host family. Part of the program includes the participant be placed with a host family in the region. David describes his family as ‘very stereotypically French” for example, meals at home consisted of several courses. He also made lots of friends in France, whom he says he will likely visit when he returns to France.
Emma, Academic Year Program in Germany
This testimonial is an email received from Emma of Halifax, Nova Scotia, that she wrote us during her Academic Year Program in Germany. Emma participated in the Nacel Canada Academic Program during the year 2006-2007.
I’m happy to say that things are going much better for me here in Germany! The last time I emailed you I was requesting permission to go home to Canada for Christmas. Now that I look back at my last months here, I’m happy to have had the chance to experience a German Christmas, even if it was a little hard to be away from home. I’ve now gotten to the point where I’m into a comfortable routine and I look forward to going to school, seeing my new friends, and attending different activities here. Just like my Nacel handbook had said all along, it really does get easier!’
So, after reading these testimonials, are you thinking to be the next Canadian going abroad?
Tags: academic year abroad, advices, cultural shock, France, germany, Host family, International High School, learn languages abroad, life abroad, study abroad, Testimonials, tips, travel abroad
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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
Here is Ababacar’s testimonial. Ababacar, a young 26 years old French student, is currently participating in the Work and Study program in Canada.
The Work and Study program in Canada allows students to learn English in a carefully selected language school in Vancouver, and then to get some professional experience by working in a Canadian resort.
The Work and Study program is a 6 or 12 months program, and includes 6 or 12 weeks of in school language study, plus evening classes.
This is the perfect program for anyone wishing to discover Canada, but also wanting to get real work field experience!
When we interviewed Ababacar, he was beginning his Work and Study program in Canada, and was still attending courses in the language school in Vancouver!
Ababacar, would you agree to answer a few questions about your program?
It is with a great pleasure that I agree to participate to your interview. The school is cool, people are cool, the family is more or less cool, and I’m living with a Brazilian. This is a really great town, I’m having a crush!
Why did you choose to participate at this type of program (work and study)? Why did you want to improve your English? What were your objectives before departure?
I would lie if I’d say I have chosen this program only for the courses. I choose it because it would allow me to get money in addition to the courses. Regarding my objectives, before leaving France I wanted to do a theater school. I really want to be an actor, and now I want to stay in Canada to keep on studying there.
Speak about the school!
Courses are good. You are feeling at your ease upon your arrival, even if you’re shy. There are people from all over the world, a lot of Brazilians. Teachers are great, sometimes they speak quickly, but one, which I consider the best: Mr Hyde, I really want people to know he is the best, I succeed in understanding all the things he says, and I’m not the only one!
Nothing to say about the school’s location, it is in the heart of the city, many shops.
Courses are not boring! Why? There are a lot of breaks, and during these breaks you keep on learning since you speak English!
Thank you Ababacar! We hope you will enjoy the end of your stay!
Tags: advices, canada, english, Internships & Work Experiences, language abroad, learn english, learn languages abroad, life abroad, Testimonials, travel abroad, vancouver
Posted in Homestay, Host family, Internships & Work Experiences, Language Travel Testimonials, Language Travel Tips, Tips to learn languages | No Comments »
Friday, August 14th, 2009
Here is Angela’s testimonial, a young Romanian student who participated in our High School program in Japan when she was 15. Our Academic program in Japan allows students to live during one year in Japan. During the academic year, students are hosted by a Japanese host family and go to a Japanese high school.
My name is Angela Pugna, I am from Romania and I have participated in the high-school one year program in Japan. At the age of 15, I decided that I need a change in my life-style, as only staying in my hometown and going to high-school seemed not to be motivating me enough to reach my potential. I never thought seriously of moving to another country before, especially not at such a young age. Being the only child of my parents, made the thought of going abroad even more difficult in the beginning. I was though aware of the fact that just staying there will make no difference in my future.
At 15, I still didn`t know too much about the world, but I must confess I was quite wise actually because I never tried to pretend I knew anything. I admitted that there are millions of things I should learn about the world so I accepted the challenge. Soon after this, I ended up preparing to go to live for one year in a completely different culture, with different language and habits, different religion and views about life. I was feeling extremely scared, but also so much excited in the same time. I had though a huge will to learn about other countries, I wanted to see how people in other parts of the world are.
I heard a lot and read a lot about Japanese people before going. I did my “homework” and tried to learn the language a bit before my departure. It definitely helped, but the amount of knowledge I started to accumulate after arriving there is incomparable. Learning the language from scratch in Japan made me feel like I was born again. I had the chance to learn again not only a new language, but new feelings, new emotions. I have to say it was confusing, feeling scared and excited from the first step I made in the airport. If I think back of it now, I am probably glad for every single emotion I went through. 
There were times when I was missing my family, my friends, when I was not feeling integrated at all in the new community, when the language was too much for me and I thought no one can understand me. I many times wanted to give up, but it would have been the biggest mistake of my life. Especially the hard moments, made me a strong and mature young lady who was ready to build up her own future.
I decided that I had to stay for another year in order to fully accomplish my goals there. It was more like an experience of learning about people and understanding myself in a different environment. My host family helped me a lot in this process. After going over a few cultural shocks and misunderstandings, soon my host mother became my best friend, the person who would not only teach me about Japan, but about life as well. Still very young and having many dreams, my host mother represented my source of motivation for my future. In all this time, all the support I got from my home country was indispensible. Knowing that my program coordinator was there to help me anytime I needed (though he was in Romania) gave me the confidence of expressing my feelings.
Probably the hardest job was the one my parents did. I now understand that actually it was a huge sacrifice for them to let me go away, and I admire and respect them more and more since then. In spite of having to face the distance, our relation became stronger than ever before and every second of my time spent in Japan I knew there is someone in the other side of the world thinking of me and strongly supporting me.
Sometimes I am still wondering if it was the right thing to do, but there was no moment I felt any regret about going. Giving it a second thought, I realize it broaden up my horizons. It was not only a real eye-opener, but the experience of living in Japan gave me the strength to undertake further challenges and set higher and higher limits for my dreams.
Because of the time spent in Japan, I have now the chance to live in England, where I am doing my university studies and here I am, preparing again to go to Japan in a few months, this time encountering a harder challenge: to integrate myself as a young professional in the Japanese business environment. The thought that I did it once, gives me the strength to believe there is no reason I wouldn`t be able to do it again. And that`s how the experience of living in Japan helps me believe in myself, again and again.
Are you dreaming of studying in Japan like Angi? Contact us to get information about this program!
Tags: academic year abroad, Add new tag, advices, cultural shock, fun, Host family, japan, language abroad, learn japanese, learn language, learn language abroad, learn languages abroad, life abroad, study abroad, Testimonials, tips, travel abroad
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Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
You go abroad to learn a language but you are worry that you might not improve your language skills as much as you wish? Follow these simple tips below and you will see a dramatic language improvement!
1- Avoid speakers of your mother tongue. If you can’t, establish together a “must-speak-local-language-rule”. If one of you doesn’t respect this rule, he’ll have some pledge!
2- If you are a native English-speaker, it must be hard for you to speak the local language. Many people will want to test their English skills with you. Well, do the same, and answer to them in the local language!
3- Get acquainted with local people: there are many ways to do so, from activities, special classes like cooking, dance,…or social networks!
4- Do everything local: eat, read, shop, watch TV…! You will learn much vocabulary in doing so and will notice a dramatic improvement of your language skills!
5- Find a local “exchange talking buddy”: he/she will help you improve your speaking skills in his/her native language, and you will do the same with yours! There are many organizations offering such possibility in big cities!
6- Date a local! Ok, it may not be that easy, but hey, it’s the best way to get language improvement!
7- Try not to focus on your mistakes while speaking. Just speak out! If someone doesn’t understand you, he’ll help you! Don’t forget that you are here to learn, and that people know that and won’t judge you!
8- Try not to feel overwhelmed by cultural shock, but rather accept others’ differences. Otherwise, you may be subject to homesickness and isolate yourself from the vibrant learning environment around you!
9- Don’t be afraid to ask people to correct you! If you don’t know the word for something, just point it and ask (with a nice “please” and a big smile) how you should say it!
10- Finally, once back home, keep on working on the language or you may forget a lot! A good idea would be to get a subscription to a magazine you enjoyed reading while abroad, or buying online books of an author you have discovered there!
Do you have tips to improve languages abroad? Don’t hesitate to share it with us!
Tags: academic year abroad, advices, fun, learn english, Learn Italian, learn language, learn language abroad, learn languages abroad, life abroad, study abroad
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