Learning the language of your host country: A few tips

Tell us about you

My name is Thibauld, I am 25 years old (soon 26!) And currently live in Stockholm, Sweden. I am a registered nurse in France with the French Red Cross. Following an internship in Scandinavia, my partner and I decided to return to live and work in Sweden. The main reason for our expatriation is the quality of life and working conditions that we find in the North. It is only under these conditions that we can exercise our profession in the best way. I have lived there for over three years now and feel very good in this new environment, although it was not easy to actually get there.

We had to learn the language from scratch and practice it until we could speak it with ease, deal with essential administrative procedures and bypass the infamous culture shock. My family and that of my partner also still live in France. The separation was not easy: It was a major turning point in our lives! But after a while, the excitement of discovering a new culture, a new country and a new way of life took over.

Why did you launch the guide to learning the language abroad?

Let's say that my expatriation was successful thanks to one thing: the efforts I made to learn the local language. I worked for 6 months as an au pair in a French family. I took care of a little boy when his parents. When the child was in school, I came home to work and learn the language as best I could. At the end of this period I reached a level good enough to find my first job. I made several mistakes in my learning that created major gaps. It wasn't until the day I started working as a caregiver that I realized that my level was not what I expected at all.

I did not understand what I was told, my colleagues had to re-explain everything to me like a child who learns to read, communication with patients was very difficult... I was on the verge of giving up everything and going back to France. But thanks to hard work for several more months and with the invaluable help of my colleagues, I was able to progress and reach my goal.

Today I could not imagine living and working in France again. Living under constant tension, in an environment that no longer suits me, regretting not being able to complete my projects in Sweden, being in financial difficulty... no thanks!

So I wrote this guide, because language is one of the biggest barriers you will encounter on your way. Once the language is mastered, things are much easier and the chances of successful expatriation greatly increase. The objective of this guide is mainly to pass on a message: Learning a language is not as complicated as it sounds. Don't pass up your chance just because learning a language is "difficult".

I no longer count the number of people interested in expatriation or even simply by an internship abroad saying: "It's too difficult, and anyway I have never been very good at languages" .

Learning a new language is above all a method, which, if followed, allows you to improve quickly and effectively. This is what I propose in this guide.

Why, when English is more and more fluent, is it important to learn the language of your host country?

Yes, it's true, it's very common and you can get by in most countries of the world with English. It is an advantage but also a disadvantage.

If your target country does not have English as the official language, you can still browse, discover and live there without problem (although it depends on the country ...) but you will also be considered as a tourist, and let's be honest, is that good enough?

We not only want to discover the country, but also to integrate it. Integration starts with making the effort to learn the local language.

It allows you to approach people more easily, to be accepted, understood more quickly and above all it shows respect towards the country that welcomes you. If only to show interest in the language, to try to express oneself. It's a challenge but it shows that you are involved, that you are fighting to integrate, and that the locals really appreciate it.

See English more as an introduction if you do not speak the local language at the time of your arrival (which was my case).

Learning the language also allows you to discover the culture of the country as well, since language and culture are two closely related things. For example, in Swedish I discovered the word "Lagom" which is hard to translate into French but roughly means "neither too little nor not enough, just enough". It is a very important concept that is found in professional, family, relationships ...

What are the three pieces of advice you would give someone who is about to settle in a new country?

Firstly, I would advise you to approach your embassy, ​​in order to have help if necessary and let the state know that you live abroad. You will be able to obtain at the same time the information, addresses, important steps to have on the target country if you do not already know it.

Then, I would advise you to get closer to a group of Francophones. Often we say that it is important to avoid contact with French speakers because it is the easy solution, that it slows down your linguistic evolution. I do not agree. Simply because if you have decided to live abroad, it is because you are already motivated for this project, that you are aware that it will be necessary to make efforts. So whatever your entourage, you will progress as long as you do not surround yourself only with French speakers.

But why start by getting closer to your roots from the start? Simply because the people already there have gone through these somewhat destabilizing stages. The group of Francophones will therefore be of great help and why not significant support if you need it.

Third tip: See the culture of the target country without filters. In your host country, you will encounter the famous "culture shock": that is to say, being faced with the sometimes very significant differences in the ways of living in society between those you know and the news. The goal is to approach things with an open mind. Certain ways of doing things or expressing yourself can embarrass you, and that's normal! But you are in a situation in which you are the stranger.

You are welcomed by this company and therefore you must accept the conditions which are asked of you.

Warning! This does not mean that you have to give up your identity, but simply comply with the rules established in the local culture. Without this way of thinking, your expatriation will suffer greatly, and you will not fully benefit from your experience.

What are the three biggest mistakes we make while learning a language?

I would say that the most common mistakes are to start with grammar first. On the contrary, I think we should end with this part! At the start, the goal is to know how to manage. If you know all the grammar rules at your fingertips but have no vocabulary, you won't get far.

This is why after several years of Spanish at school I only remember the phrase "El hombre come la manzana". Then the mistake that I think has far-reaching repercussions and that I myself have made is to leave comprehension and oral expression aside. This is often the case in school. We teach you how to write correct sentences, which is obviously important, but in everyday life, you communicate mainly orally! However, if you do not work this part there, the day when you will be confronted with the world of work you will not be able to express yourself correctly and you will have the impression of not moving forward.

Finally, preventing yourself from speaking for fear of saying something stupid. It is true that a bad pronunciation, for example, can give rise to funny situations, even embarrassing sometimes. But at least you get started! You get used to talking, having a conversation, and in case you make a mistake, you learn a lesson, which you will learn!

So get started!

How is the learning approach before settling in a country and after settling in?

Let's say that one is the long but comfortable method while the other is a shortcut that pushes you to a challenge. Indeed, learning the language before being in the country is a way to secure your arrival. You will be able to express yourself directly, and the language barrier will hardly exist for you. However, you will need an advanced method, multiple resources (texts, audio recordings) and flawless discipline.

Personally, I am a procrastinator at heart. If I don't have a fixed date, I have a lot of trouble getting started in a project and especially to finish it! I tried to learn Swedish before leaving, but working alone, it was difficult on the one hand to find the necessary resources, and on the other hand to have an effective learning method.

The best option in case you want to learn the local language before your departure would be to get closer either to someone who is ready to give you private lessons (group if possible) or to obtain a language learning method that will suit you. will work all the important axes of learning.

As far as I am concerned, I am one of those who left for the target country without speaking the local language. The main advantage being that you bathe in the language on a daily basis and that you set a deadline. Expatriating is expensive and to continue you will have to find a job, so speaking the language will be a priority for you.

This is what worked best for me, because since I did not feel ready (at all!) To work in France in view of the working conditions that I was offered, I had no other choice than to give everything to master the Swedish language.

It all depends on your personality and the way you work.