Photo by Marko

For the intermediate and advanced language student, an exchange with a native speaker is one of the best ways to practice conversation, learn colloquialisms, and develop a friendship with a person from another culture. The only problem is that oftentimes these meetings end up covering the same conversational topics again and again, or break down into English.

If you are feeling that your time with a language exchange partner could be more productive, give these techniques a try.

Pick your meeting place carefully.

A favorite bar, restaurant, or cafe are all fun and popular places to meet with a language exchange partner. However, if your meeting place is too loud to talk at a comfortable level, filled with your friends, or distracting in some other way, it is probably limiting what you are getting from each meeting.

Likewise, if you find that your quiet meeting place is making the interaction between you and your partner a bit stiff, than a livelier location might loosen you both up and spark some conversation. Finding an atmosphere that works for both you and your partner is one of the most important things to developing a beneficial and productive exchange.

Establish a schedule

photo by Oona Fay

Another impediment to productive classes relationship is establishing a schedule and sticking to it. Be flexible at first and work to find a time that will truly work for both people. If your language partner is constantly calling and canceling meetings, make the effort to reschedule. If the meeting time is a challenge for you, don’t be afraid to suggest a change.

Initiate your own learning

To make a language exchange worthwhile you must take initiative for your own learning. Take time before each meeting to write out a few situations, sentences, questions, or words that you would like to practice in your meeting. If you notice yourself slipping into English, move back into the language you are learning.

Take Notes

A good way to maintain focus in a language exchange meeting is to take notes. Over the course of a conversation, words and phrases that challenge you will come up and taking notes will allow you to capture this language for later study.

Also, the pace of a conversation can be so fast at time, you finish without really remembering what was discussed. Notes taken from meeting to meeting will allow you to plan for the future and decrease the amount of repetition in your conversations.

Focus on communication

photo by Jason Rezaian

Generally speaking, a meeting with a language partner is not the time to ask questions about specific grammar points. It is also not your job to give lessons on English grammar, even if your partner makes frequent errors. Instead, focus on communication. If both you and your partner can express the intended ideas, the exercise should be considered a success.

That is not to say that grammar mistakes should be ignored. If errors interfere with effectively expressing meaning, or your partner is making consistent, specific, errors, they should be discussed when they happen. Just avoid killing the flow with a lengthy discussion of grammar rules.

Use a timer

With some language partners, no matter how much initiative you take, it is nearly impossible to stay on task. For situations like this, introduce the use of a timer. While it does seem a bit stiff and structured at first, keeping formal time for each segment of the meeting can do wonders for focusing the group.

When you use a timer, try to establish periods of time with specific goals in mind. An example might be five minutes of general greetings, ten minutes of sentence review, five minutes of new vocabulary, etc.

Having regular meetings with a language exchange partner is a great way to practice and improve a foreign language. It is also a great way to make a new friend. With a little planning and the use of a few organizational techniques it will be easy to get the most out of the meetings and have fun at the same time.

Photo by an untrained eye

When choosing a language school, start by asking these five simple questions to help narrow down the options, uncover your own needs, and asses the quality of potential programs:

1. What is the average class size?

Keep in mind that a larger number of students is not necessarily a bad thing. More classmates will provide more opportunities to make friends, form study groups outside of class, and learn with a variety of styles and abilities.

However, small, or even private classes, allow you more time with a teacher and the possibility to tailor a class to your own strengths and weaknesses.

2. What are the teacher’s qualifications?

While most language schools have teachers with excellent qualifications, this is not always the case. Ask the program for information about the teachers you will be studying with. Other things to consider: how much the teacher can, or is expected to speak English, and how many different teachers you will be exposed to.

3. What is the format of the classes?

Language schools affiliated with universities will have a different format and style than private schools. While every language class will have some combination of conversation, lecture, and exercises, different schools and programs will emphasis these activities to differing degrees. Think about how you learn best and look for a program that fits your own style.

Many language schools also offer more “hands on” programs featuring field trips, cultural activities, and social events. While these are excellent experiences that are necessary to contextualize any language study, they required more personal direction and focus for the beginning student to keep up.

Another important consideration is the teaching style of the program. Some schools focus on teaching very formal versions of the language, the goal being students who sound “proper.” Others like to emphasize colloquial language, introducing idioms and slang into lessons. Take a close look at your goals in the language, not only your personal preferences, when deciding on a teaching style.

4. What is the placement process?

photo by ipanemic

How students are placed in classes is an important consideration for all students, whether they are just beginning or very advanced. More experienced students want to ensure that they will be able to be placed in the class at their level. Make sure you know what areas of language are assessed and that you are prepared to show your best.

Beginning students don’t usually have to worry about how they will be placed, but should be aware of how others may be. Sometimes beginning classes can become filled with weak, experienced, students not yet ready for intermediate classes. While this can push beginners to work harder, the classes may move at a faster pace than is comfortable.

5. What is the difference between the intensive and regular programs?

Intensive programs often follow the same curriculum of a normal course but offer one or two additional hours of instruction per day. This can be an excellent opportunity to spend extra time studying with a teacher or your classmates. These extra hours are particularly useful in programs with larger class sizes.

Still, it is important to determine how the extra time is spent before you choose the intensive program. If the additional class activities match your needs and interests then the intensive class will be a good fit for you.

Keep in mind that intensive language programs can be very taxing on their students and often lead to the burnout. If this is a concern then a non-intensive program, one that allows plenty of time outside class for studying, work with language partners, travel, and fun, might be a better choice for you.

Picking a language program can be hard but if you take your time, do a little research, and ask plenty of questions, you’ll find one that fits your needs and goals perfectly.

Photo by Felicia Wong

Although English is my first language, I learned Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese Chinese as a child, picked up French in high school, and have recently became conversant in Spanish as I travel through South America. Over the years, I’ve picked up the following tips for expediting language acquisition.

1. Immerse yourself

It’s almost impossible to learn a new language, or at least to learn it rapidly, unless you begin thinking in that language. But how do you think in a new language you can’t yet speak?

The answer is to simply immerse yourself in it. Traveling in a foreign country allows you to continuously hear the sounds, rhythms, and inflections of a new language–spoken on the streets, in buses, on television, etc. Your brain will already start to process and interpret a new language.

Even better than simply traveling is being forced to “operate” in a new language by participating in a volunteer program, or working abroad. Best of all is being completely immersed with locals (such as living with a host family) and completely isolated from other native speakers of your language.

Immerse yourself with the locals, their music, culture, media, politics, sports, family, etc. Ingratiate yourself with the community and you’re halfway there!

2. Forget translating: think like a baby!

photo by Felicia Wong

How do babies learn language? Through imitation, repetition of sounds, and above all, by not being shy or self-conscious.

So what if your pronunciation is a little off, or you can’t remember the proper conjugation? Just start talking, even if it seems like babbling. Resisting the urge to translate everything into your native language can be the single fastest shortcut to fluency.

Rather than walking up to the restaurant or giving your host family a pre-memorized phrase for what you’re going to order, simply listen to how the locals order their food, and then imitate them as best you can. The same goes for greetings, small talk, etc. Watch their facial expressions as they say the words; study how they move their mouths.

Copy these expressions and sounds just like a baby would. Whether you understand what they mean exactly or not, eventually you will begin simply calling upon these sounds / phrases / words in appropriate situations. They’ll appear, as if by magic. This is the gateway to thinking in a new language.

3. How do you say?

Besides common greetings, the one phrase you should memorize and always have at the ready is the phrase is “How do you say that / what is that called?”

By being an inquisitive traveler, one who is always asking questions, you befriend the local people. You’ll find that over time they’ll open up to you, making it easier to initiate conversations. These daily interactions with the locals are your best teachers: set a daily goal for yourself of having X number of conversations each day–asking people about things you’re interested in, but don’t know the words for. Even if you can’t finish the conversation, you’re on the way.

4. Write it

After having conversations, jot down the things you remembered hearing but didn’t quite understand. (This can serve double duty if you’re also taking notes for your travel blog).

Then go back and use your dictionary. Look up the words, piece the conversation back together in your mind. Then, next time you have a conversation, use what you learned.

When studying French and Spanish, I also used “grammar sheets” where I wrote down the various verbs to learn their conjugations. Besides helping me focus, they also became handy reference guides.

5. Use cognates and draw links

Ever noticed how some words appear exactly the same across various languages? These are called “cognates.” Unlocking the usage of cognates instantly gives you several hundred more words to your vocabulary. For example, most words ending in “ion” in the Latin languages are the same in English.

For example: information / información, donation / donación

Similarly, words across different languages often share the same root word, so drawing on what you already know will make it easier (e.g.: cheese is fromage in French and fromaggio in Italian). Studies have also shown that when you have mastered a second language, your brain becomes becomes better wired to learn subsequent new languages. Fret not, it gets better!

6. Local TV, movies, music

photo by Robert Paetz

Watch movies, listen to music, sing songs, and browse newspapers and magazines. It’s fun and helps improve your pronunciation and comprehension.

I often stumble when trying to read Chinese script because I don’t use it enough and there are no phonetic cues in Chinese characters. But by watching Chinese music videos and following the lyrics, I learned many new characters and also began pronouncing words more accurately.

In the same way, I attuned myself to rapid French prattling by watching French movies on DVD without subtitles and improved my Spanish by paying attention during the dubbed action movies on long bus rides in South America.

Salsa classes have also ensured I know my izquierda (left) from my derecha (right)!

7. Non-verbal cues

Beyond words, observe locals when they talk. Be it the Gaelic shrug or a slight tilt of the head, combining body language with a new tongue helps you communicate better.

This is especially important in cultures where language is closely linked to gestures. For instance, appropriate bowing and greeting in Japanese are inseparable, as with the hand gestures and intonation in Thailand. Picking up on non-verbal cues added a new dimension to my interactions with Thais, as I learned the appropriate bowing of the head and a deep enough wai (palms together) to accompany my greetings.

8. Get emotional!

photo by Robert Paetz

Emotive experiences often etch impressions onto our memory. Make full use of embarrassing / funny / angry experiences by linking them to the new language.

I learned, quite unfortunately, the importance of the special “ñ” character in Spanish because saying “Tengo 24 anos” instead of “años” meant I told everyone I had 24 anuses rather than being 24 years old.

Needless to say, the embarrassment helped correct my pronunciation for good! Similarly, negotiating with shady cab drivers or nasty vendors also helps you learn numbers rather quickly so you don’t get ripped off.

9. A world of friends / then going solo.

While individual classes can be highly beneficial for unsurpassed attention, group classes with friends can greatly aid learning. Having a friend to practice with helps you get better, and you can also learn from the different mistakes different people make.

On the other hand, venturing out solo in a foreign country forces you to speak with local people–say the person riding next to you on the bus, or standing in line at the market. It also prevents you relying on a friend with stronger language skills to do the talking for you in key exchanges such as asking for directions or buying food.

10. Practice at every opportunity before and after you travel.

Ever felt really “rusty” and lacking confidence in a language despite having taken classes or used it (or even mastered it) at some other time in your life? Languages are alive and require exercise. Find avenues to practice wherever and whenever you can.

For instance, I don’t get to use French very often in my daily life, so I found a French penpal to exchange emails. I also keep in touch with people I met in France and French travelers I met in the course of my travels. Writing in French on FaceBook (www.facebook.com) walls does wonders and even helps you learn some local slang!

photo by Tal Bright

An American friend I had taught with in Taiwan beckoned me to Istanbul with tales of local men serenading Western women, luring them into love spells with baklava. Her descriptions of lunch by the seaside and bustling spice markets charmed me all the way to the travel agency.

“It’s my New York, but better,” she had said.

I got my suitcase and tea glass ready.

Upon arriving, a crowd of fake blondes congregated at the airport entry gates with the sort of urgency that says, “This is a great place.” Counting bright headscarf after bright headscarf, my first impression of Istanbul was part-Europe, part-Asia, and part hyperactive kid on the beach.

Now that I have been living and teaching in Istanbul for a few months, there’s still enough radiation to keep me feeling like a holiday girl, even teaching forty plus hours a week.

Considerations for teaching

photo by tinou bao

Money

When contemplating a job here, it is important to remember that you are still the same old barking English seal teacher that you are anywhere else in Asia, but you will probably get paid decent money and have enough eager students, to make it worthwhile.

Local Vibe

Be prepared to entertain your students as much as you teach them, and anticipate to be showered with home-cooked food from friendly students who appreciate the effort you put into your classes. Most will be willing to share their language and culture.

Culture
Should you tire of the workaholic schedule that English schools will likely impose, there is always the hammam (Turkish bath) to indulge in, where a burly masseuse or masseur, will scrub you like Hercules.

Cuisine

Culinary delights abound, including fish still squirming fresh on the market table, sold by boisterous men in rubber boots. Rice is most often replaced with a range of other, more inspiring carbohydrates, like flower-shaped herb bread, and cherry-filled baklava.

The mighty lamb is prevalent, sliced with grilled peppers and tomatoes, and served together with yogurt, cilantro and pita bread.

Job Placement

For those seeking ESL teaching work in Istanbul, numerous jobs abound, and can be found simply by walking into the language schools themselves, or by applying with a resume, cover letter, photo and scanned copy of qualifications and passport over the Internet.

While I have never heard of an English school here that doesn’t need teachers (which means you will probably be working some serious overtime) private language schools mostly hire people with a Canadian, British, Australian, or American passport, a TESOL certificate (or similar qualification) and/or a degree in any subject, from a recognized university.

First time-teachers are usually welcome, as are people of various ages. My current work staff includes everyone from ages twenty to fifty-five, and they are generally sane people, from various professional backgrounds.

Accomodation

Some schools provide accommodation, but most don’t. However, there are throngs of English-teachers actively searching for roommates, and most language schools will offer some help in finding an affordable and comfortable place to live.

Prices

Costs for accommodation, food, and other necessities of life are comparable to Canada, the US and some parts of Europe. As Turkey is in close proximity to several Middle-Eastern and European countries, you may also want to travel.

Depending on whether or not you choose to go by train, plane, bus or car, prices can vary from the extraordinarily cheap to the staggeringly expensive.

photo by robokow

Activities

Istanbul has no shortage of things to do. In the Greek Quarter, old women haggle over striped socks at the market and fruit vendors greet shoppers with heaping triangles of olives and figs. Speeding taxis with bashed-in fronts steer and skid amongst the crowds of pedestrians spilling over the curbs in the downtown districts.

Ladies selling flowers by the boat docks push stems of daffodils under your nose, commanding, in their hats and headscarves, a mere dollar a bundle.

One of my best moments so far in Istanbul has been taking pictures of stray cats in a historic graveyard at 7am, while men and women beat carpets, men prayed, and children chased pigeons. People were doing their everyday activities, but it was nonetheless impressive.

Nightlife

Numerous nightclubs in almost every area of the city provide a comfortable places for expats and locals alike to get their groove on. While going out is expensive, one will feel at the end of the evening, as if their money has been well spent.

In Istanbul, atmosphere is everything- clubs and pubs are usually “dressed to the nines”, with plush velour, seaside seating, water pipes, hip music and cheerful chatter, in a multitude of languages.

For me, Istanbul is a spot to rest my rucksack while I’m turning the tricks of the English teaching trade, but my respect for the place and its people now goes beyond my initial pinwheel of tourist images. It is now my temporary home, and one that I see myself returning to.

For aspiring and seasoned travelers, there is no other city that quite captures the glamor of a martini glass, the pizzazz of a belly dancer, and the wild imagination of two continents.

As for whether it’s “better than New York,” I’m hardly to judge, but surely, anyone who comes here to teach will not be disappointed.

Photo by Ametxa

Brazil is a big country. Approximately 185 million inhabitants inhabit a land mass roughly the size of the continental USA. Two-thirds of Brazilians live within 100km of the coast, where, many would argue, you’ll find the most vibrant cities.

The following study abroad guide covers cities by moving down the coast from north to south.

Northern Brazil

Geography and Culture

Northern Brazil is predominately populated by people of African descent, while Southern Brazil has a large German and Italian population. The northern city of Salvador is also known as Roma Negra, or Black Rome, while the southern city of Blumenau holds the second largest Oktoberfest, outside of Germany.

Life is typically more laid back and infused with a lively Afro Brazilian flare in the north, while cleanliness and a reserved culinary palate comes with the cooler weather of the south. Regardless of whether you choose to study in the north or south of Brazil, you are going to find incredibly friendly people with an unrivaled passion for life.

Fortaleza

Capital of the northeastern Brazilian state Ceara, Fortaleza has the most sunny days of any coastal Brazilian city. You can dance to hot Forro beats in the city’s buzzing nightlife district.

Beautiful beaches stretch for 25 km in front of the town. Some of the best bars and clubs are found near the Dragao do Mar Center of Art and Culture. With a number of universities, including Universidade Federal do Cerra, the city has a long tradition as a cultural center.

You will enjoy a sumptuous life melding bohemian nightlife, white sand beaches, and spicy food, alongside peaceful and fun-loving people.

Salvador de Bahia

Unquestionably the cultural heart of Brazil, Salvador, the State Capital of Baiha, is a melting pot of different cultures.

A very strong African influence infuses the music, food and dance here. If you are interested in Capoeira (a combination of martial art and dance), Salvador is a great place to learn.

The city is large and safety is an issue, but if you want to be in the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture, Salvador is where it beats.

Rio De Janiro

Rio is a city of great contrast: class and classicism, beach and granite, rambling jungle and abject poverty–all wrapped into an urban landscape. There are world-class accommodations, bars, restaurants, shopping, beaches and surf–you can find anything in Rio.

photo by Zeca Baronio

Tijuca National Park, rising from the center of the city, offers a great place to take walks or cycle, and is the largest urban forest in the world.

Living in Rio you will find the locals, “Carioca” very friendly but weary of the dangers in their own city.

Rio is wonderful, but desperate poverty lives right down the block. Violence is common and the consequences cannot be overlooked. Many exchange programs will not place students here due to the violence, but I would gladly take the risk.

Use caution, avoid flashing around money and valuables, ask the locals where to go, and you will have an amazing stay.

Balneário Camboriu

This resort town is located on the coast of Santa Catarina, and its beach-front is a popular Brazilian getaway. There’s good year-round nightlife due to a lot of university students, and many clubs are situated a little outside the main city with dance parlors stretching out onto the sand.

photo by appm

The world’s only cable car connecting two beaches is the bondinho running from the southern end of town to Laranjeiras Beach, with a pit stop on top of a mountain.

Equipped with modern amenities, cinema, shopping, and good restaurants, Camboriu strikes a good balance between the buzz of a large city and the safety of a smaller town.

Southern Brazil

Florianopolis

Located on the island of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis is known for its beaches, surfing, kite-boarding, and sand-boarding.

photo by Andréia

Florianopolis has forty-two beaches to choose from, varying from stylish beach resorts to deserted stretches of white sand. Southern Brazil, predominantly settled by Europeans, has a large German population. “Floripa” as the locals call it, is known throughout Brazil for it’s beautiful blondes.

Southern Brazil is much safer than northern Brazil, and has a cooler climate–particularly nice during the summer months. Floripa claims to have no Favelas, (slums) like Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. The culture is laid-back and you can find many nice bars in the city center or in the neighborhood of Lagoa.

Which Program is right for me?

You will find a number of study abroad programs in Brazil; here are a few good ones.

If you are high school age, AFS, is a great program for 6 month to year programs, and you can go with no prior study of Portuguese.

Another good program is First Step World, which offers a number of courses in Rio de Janeiro, Florianopolis and Salvador.

Also take a look at Two Worlds United.

Different programs will require different levels of language proficiency, ranging from two years of college Portuguese to no prior knowledge at all.

Choose a program that fits your skill level. Program costs will differ depending on the length of stay and additional options they give you. Look for programs offering trips to other parts of Brazil. After all, you want to see a bit of the country!

Two Worlds

Once, I had a conversation with a Buddhist monk about language and cultural exchange.

He said, “When you speak two languages it is like having two minds, when you live in two cultures, you have lived two lives.”

I think his sentiment is a beautiful and true way of at looking at study abroad. No matter where you choose to study, with whatever program, you are going to have an eye-opening, exultant, wonderful experience.

Community Connection

Check out more on Brazil including info from local experts, organizations where you can study and volunteer, plus job opportunities, travelers you can connect with, and the most inspired blogs you’ll find anywhere on the web.

Photo by Becky Timbers

Our classroom for the day was the summit of a rocky foothill near Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our chairs were small round boulders and our desks were our own sunburned thighs.

We sat side by side, knee to knee, listening to our professor speak about conservation issues in Kenya and how modern technology and an increasing human population is negatively impacting wildlife by consuming their natural habitats.

A year and a half later, I can’t remember the specifics of the lecture or even which teacher was addressing us, but I can still see, as if it were yesterday, the stark, dry expanse of Kenyan soil as it stretched out to the horizon, united with the sloping wings of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Maasai Tribesmen and Marauding Elephants

I was a junior in college, studying abroad in Kenya through the School for Field Studies, an organization dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and the environment, and a proponent of working with locals to improve health, education, human rights and land management.

photo by Becky Timbers

Our base camp was located just outside Amboseli National Park in the southern part of Kenya. Stepping out of our bandas in the morning, we were met with a radiant vista of Kilimanjaro topped with fresh snow. After breakfast, class was held in the open-air classroom.

After lunch we would put the classroom information to practical use by visiting the national parks or surrounding areas and finding examples of the issues we had previously discussed.

We examined the trunks and limbs of trees to assess the amount of damage done by marauding elephants, whose home ranges have been steadily decreasing due to privatization of land.

We visited the homes of countless Maasai tribesmen and asked them how the national parks have impacted their pastoral and nomadic lifestyles.

We counted the species of birds we saw in a day, the number of elephants in a herd and the number of gazelles in the park. We went on two two-week expeditions into the rugged interiors of lion country, where guards with loaded guns surrounded our circle of tents just in case a roaming pair of felines got curious and wanted a midnight snack.

To become more involved in the community, we taught English at a local school and helped pick up trash in a nearby town. The askari’s, or guards, at our base camp were all from the area and we employed local guides to help us with surveys and studies.

A First-Hand Perspective

photo by Becky Timbers

As our society is propelled into international crises and environmental degradation, I believe it is vital for young scholars to take a year, or even a semester, to learn about the problems and dilemmas people and wildlife are facing throughout the world.

More often than not, university-taught classes do not generate the same profound effect that study abroad in a foreign country can instill. The emotion gained by ladling soup into a dented tin can for a malnourished child, or seeing a gazelle tangled up in the metal coils of a snare cannot be taught through lectures or pictures in a textbook.

The School for Field Studies Kenya Semester Program allowed me to immerse myself into the rich culture and diversity of East African heritage. Although strict and exasperating at times (they attribute their prudery to safety and liability issues), the Program was an amazing experience that I would recommend to any student wishing to throw themselves into a fascinating culture while learning about and helping to address conservation issues.

I not only met other students interested in similar ideas and concepts, but I also made lasting friendships with Kenyan natives and I gained a greater appreciation for East African culture.

The School for Field Studies also offers programs in Mexico, Costa Rica, Australia, and Turks and Caicos.

Community Connection!

For more study abroad options in Africa, check out Matador member Alexis Wolff’s article “Where In Africa Should I study Abroad ?”

New Matador member Robin Spanner felt the most immersed in a foreign culture when he was living in Kasigau in southern Kenya: “We lived on the highest point of the village on the side of a mountain!”