Whether you know zero vocabulary or you are an

advanced speaker in a foreign language, a little

preparation can help you get the most out of your

immersion language program abroad. Here are some

tips from study abroad veterans. Whether you plan

to study Spanish, learn Italian, or even become

fluent in Japanese, this is advice worth paying

attention to.

1. Set Realistic Goals

Learning another language is not easy for most of

us. It takes time, practice and many mistakes. Go

into a program with the goal of increasing your

communication skills. Do not assume that you are

going to perfect the language in so many weeks or

months, it is too much pressure.

2. Bolster Your Vocabulary

If you are an absolute beginner, get a phrase book,

preferably with a tape to accompany it (check out

the Spanish phrase ebook given away at the end of

this article). Learn some basics like: Please, Thank

you, Where is ..., How much. . . , etc. Knowing these

phrases and some hand gestures will get you by in

a crunch. For intermediate or advanced speakers,

we recommend learning as much vocabulary as

possible before you go, including common idioms.

Your language instruction will focus mainly on

grammar, conversation and listening. The more

vocabulary you have going into the program, the

more ways you will get to apply the language.

All participants should bring a comprehensive

dictionary, not only a pocket dictionary. Consider a

guidebook that has a section listing local

colloquialisms. This ensures that you will not travel

to Ecuador or try to study in Guatemala with

knowledge only of the Spanish commonly used in

Madrid or Barcelona. Being prepared for local

sayings can help you get the most out of your

language classes or study abroad program.

3. Be Able To Conjugate Important Verbs

Learn to conjugate, COLD, those really important

verbs like: to wish/want, to be able/can, to be and

to go. These kinds of verbs conjugated in the

present or past combined with infinitives instantly

increase your ability to communicate. If you are an

absolute beginner focus on the I-form and you-form

of the really important verbs.

4. Think The Language

Do not try and translate everything word for word. It

does not work. You will drive yourself crazy looking

for a word that may not exist in the target language.

Recognize the fact that grammar rules will be

different. Learn the differences along with the

similarities and your understanding of HOW the

language works will increase ten fold. Even if you

are fluent in Spanish and have spent years studying

in Barcelona, if you are going to attend an

international language program in Paris you will

need to familiarize yourself with a new thought

process for the French language.

5. When In Doubt, Literature-ize

This means try to use so called larger words. For

example, in Spanish, need does not translate but

necessity turns into necesidad. Requisite becomes

requisito and exigency blossoms into exigencia.

Since these words sound very similar, you will be

understood. There are examples like these in all

languages.

6. Romance Languages Are Similar

If you know another romance language, you have a

leg up if you learn Spanish or study Portuguese. You

already know the concept of masculine and feminine

words, accent marks, etc. Many words ending in Y

like liberty will end with: ad in Spanish, e in French,

ade in Portuguese or a in Italian. Similarly, words

ending in ion in English often sound alike, and mean

the same thing in Spanish.

Learning Chinese or studying Japanese, Arabic,

Hebrew, or Thai can present unique challenges, as

the words are so different from what most of us are

used to hearing. More time may be necessary to

learn these languages, and more pre-trip

preparation can be immensely helpful. Regardless of

the difficulty level of the language, knowing two or

more languages makes any international study

program easier, and the benefits of learning an

uncommon tongue can far outweigh the drawbacks.

7. Stay Open Minded

The best tool for learning a language at any level is

a good attitude. Understanding the culture helps

with language acquisition. Do not be afraid to make

mistakes, they are great to learn from and can be

funny too! A sense of humor really helps.