Ever felt like you are not learning enough of the host country language?\u00a0 I do, everyday.\u00a0 I know it is possible, because today at lunch, I saw many expats talking fluently in the host country language, effortlessly.\u00a0 Do I secretly dislike them because of my jealousy towards their amazing language skills?\u00a0 I think so, if I\u2019m being honest.<\/p>\n
I actually studied language in University.\u00a0 I have a degree in a romance language!\u00a0 But still, I struggle every day with my ability to learn a new language.<\/p>\n
Also, how many of you expats have experienced this scenario?\u00a0 You speak in the host language, then the other person (a native speaker of the target language) persists to respond back to you English.\u00a0 Then there is the opposite.\u00a0 You speak in English and the other person precedes to tell you how you should practice talking more in Chinese.\u00a0 Sometimes it feels like a lose-lose situation as you try and interact with the locals.<\/p>\n
Here is the list of 10 steps to becoming fluent on this blog by Felicia Wong<\/a>.\u00a0 For sure there is some great insight into the arduous attempt to become fluent.\u00a0 I\u2019ve listed the 10 steps here, but check out the rest of the blog entry<\/a> for all the details under each step.<\/p>\n 1. Immerse yourself<\/strong><\/p>\n 2. Forget translating: think like a baby!<\/strong><\/p>\n 3. How do you say?<\/strong><\/p>\n 4. Write it<\/strong><\/p>\n 5. Use cognates and draw links <\/strong><\/p>\n 6. Local TV, movies, music<\/strong><\/p>\n 7. Non-verbal cues<\/strong><\/p>\n 8. Get emotional! <\/strong><\/p>\n 9. A world of friends \/ then going solo<\/strong><\/p>\n 10. Practice at every opportunity before and after you travel.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ever felt like you are not learning enough of the host country language?\u00a0 I do, everyday.\u00a0 I know it is possible, because today at lunch, I saw many expats talking fluently in the host country language, effortlessly.\u00a0 Do I secretly dislike them because of my jealousy towards their amazing language skills?\u00a0 I think so, if […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10],"tags":[955,482,956,29,230,614,957],"class_list":["post-443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-great-link","tag-becoming-fluent","tag-expat","tag-fluency","tag-international-school","tag-language-learning","tag-life-abroad","tag-second-language"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2flVT-79","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":726,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/new-survey-how-important-is-it-to-be-able-to-communicate-in-the-local-language-in-your-current-placement\/","url_meta":{"origin":443,"position":0},"title":"New Survey: How important is it to be able to communicate in the local language in your current placement?","author":"ISCommunity","date":"May 19, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"A new survey has arrived! Topic:\u00a0 How important is it to be able to communicate in the local language in your current placement? We all dream of becoming fluent in the local language of the place at which we are living, but it is not as easy task\u2026well for most\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Surveys"","block_context":{"text":"Surveys","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/surveys\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/05\/screen-shot-2012-05-19-at-11-48-30-am.png?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":160,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/highlighted-article-infographic-of-the-day-americas-problem-with-second-languages\/","url_meta":{"origin":443,"position":1},"title":"Highlighted article: Infographic Of The Day \u2013 America\u2019s Problem With Second Languages","author":"ISCommunity","date":"December 17, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Are you struggling to learn the language of your host country?\u00a0 Did you also struggle learning a 2nd language in your home country? 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There is also the language though, the language of your host country, which most likely becomes a huge factor that you are confronted\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Video Highlight"","block_context":{"text":"Video Highlight","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/video-highlight\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/7.png?fit=642%2C251&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/7.png?fit=642%2C251&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/7.png?fit=642%2C251&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":72,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/video-highlight-a-discussion-about-language-learning-and-the-second-language-learning-of-children-at-international-schools\/","url_meta":{"origin":443,"position":3},"title":"Video highlight: A discussion about language learning and the second language learning of children at international schools","author":"ISCommunity","date":"January 29, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Language and Learning The video addresses the following questions: \u2022 How many languages can a child learn at once? \u2022 Is there a \u2018window\u2019 of opportunity, or can they learn multiple languages at any time? \u2022 And what are the cognitive benefits of learning more than one language? \u2022 We\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Video Highlight"","block_context":{"text":"Video Highlight","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/video-highlight\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8723,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/learning-the-host-country-language-and-locals-level-of-english\/","url_meta":{"origin":443,"position":4},"title":"LEARNING THE HOST COUNTRY LANGUAGE and LOCALS’ LEVEL OF ENGLISH","author":"ISCommunity","date":"April 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"In this article, ISC would like to highlight some of your recent thoughts and experiences on the topic of learning the host-country language and the level of English of the locals living there. Many seasoned international school teachers want to learn the host-country language and put their best effort into\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discussion Topics"","block_context":{"text":"Discussion Topics","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/discussion-topics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/writing-g0b4d480f7_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/writing-g0b4d480f7_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/writing-g0b4d480f7_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/writing-g0b4d480f7_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/writing-g0b4d480f7_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2191,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/new-teacher-orientation-must-haves-at-international-schools-beginning-level-host-country-language-classes\/","url_meta":{"origin":443,"position":5},"title":"New Teacher Orientation Must-Haves at International Schools: Beginning-level host country language classes.","author":"ISCommunity","date":"August 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"In this blog series we will talk about the ins and outs of an excellent new teacher orientation programme at an international school.\u00a0 A new teacher orientation programme can really play a very important part to the start at your new school, in your new host country.\u00a0 What are all\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Teacher Orientation Must-Haves"","block_context":{"text":"New Teacher Orientation Must-Haves","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/categories-new-teacher-orientation-must-haves\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/class_veronique.png?fit=802%2C602&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/class_veronique.png?fit=802%2C602&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/class_veronique.png?fit=802%2C602&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/class_veronique.png?fit=802%2C602&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}