Die Grenzen meiner Sprache sind die Grenzen meiner Welt - Ludwig Wittgenstein


<< PREV   |   NEXT >>

How to prepare: what to know before you go

Visiting a foreign country can naturally be a little stressful when you don’t know the language well. But the more you know what to expect, the easier it will be. Try to learn what your academic environment will be like beforehand.

Be sure to ask about class hours and homework expectations. It may be easiest to send an email to the school. Don’t be afraid to write your email in English if you need to, as your school is probably staffed by a large number of people who speak and write English everyday. Likewise, don’t be afraid to write or call your new school using your limited foreign language skills – they work with students every day!

Placement exams. While it is unlikely that you will be required to ‘pass’ an entrance exam, if you already have some language experience you will probably be offered a placement exam. It’s a good idea to ask your school if you can take the placement exam in advance of your arrival. If your visit abroad is brief, you can save valuable time this way.

Schools which are serious about the quality of their teaching will certainly adhere to the “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages” which provides a recognized standard for describing language skills levels. These levels are A1 and A2 for beginners, B1 and B2 for mid-level students, and C1 and C2 for advanced students.

Curriculum. One of the most important questions for you will be:  how hard or how easy will your course be? What will the pace of instruction be like, and how many lessons per week will be covered? For example, a mid-level intensive course may cover two textbook chapters per week. Is the course continuous, or does it have a fixed curriculum? And what subject material is likely to be covered during your stay? Will it be a review of what you already know, or will it be completely new? Again, knowing what to expect can make your experience that much more enjoyable.

A sharp pencil, a desire to learn, and a few good books. Be sure to bring a good dictionary, and consider bringing a grammar book for additional study. If you wait to buy these things in the country you are visiting, you will probably find them a bit more difficult to understand – since they won’t be written for English speakers! A good grammar book can help clarify any challenging topics (such as conjugation, tenses, or word order) by providing a fresh explanation, in English.

Another good idea, if you have sufficient time beforehand, is to acquire the textbooks that you are likely to use in the school. This will give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the instruction (to a degree) in advance. The trick here is to determine which class level is right for you.

<< PREV   |   NEXT >>