You should study language abroad to increase your fluency in it, because there’s no better way to learn the intricacies of a foreign language than by living in a country where people use it every day. Immerse yourself in a new culture for months at a time, and whether you study Spanish abroad, French, or Chinese, you’ll be better positioned to master it. What’s even better is that a language program abroad will make you more marketable as you enter the workforce, since the business world today continues to blur borders between America, Europe, Asia, and everywhere else. If you study language abroad, then you’ll benefit for the rest of your life.
Spanish
Study Spanish abroad and you’ll gain practical experience that will help you no matter where you live or what you do in your career. Since Spanish is one of the world’s most spoken languages, it’s become a real advantage to know it fluently. The great thing about studying Spanish abroad is that you have a wide range of options of where you can study it. You can spend a summer, semester, or an entire year in the language’s motherland of Spain. Or you can pick a study abroad program in any number of Spanish-speaking countries like Mexico, Argentina, and Puerto Rico. The study abroad experience you’ll receive will depend largely upon the country you visit, but your Spanish will improve immeasurably wherever you go – as long as you use it every day. Click here to learn more about the benefits of learning Spanish.
English
Why study English abroad? Because you can study it in its country of origin and learn the nuances between the American English that we use every day and Great Britain’s British English. From variations in spelling and pronunciation, to unusual meanings for the same word, you might be surprised to see the real differences that exist between the two classifications of English. Grammar aside, it’s literature that compels so many American students to study language abroad in England. Without a doubt, some of the greatest literary masterpieces of all time were penned in England. From the plays of William Shakespeare to the novels of Charles Dickens and the works of the Brontë sisters Charlotte, Anne, and Emily, there will be no shortage of interesting reading materials or literary museums to visit when you study English abroad. Discover the English language by clicking here.
French
Choosing a French language program abroad can send you packing to Europe, have you hitting the beach, or take you right over the border. There are just so many places where you can study the French language abroad, including the country of France and nearby nations like Switzerland or Luxembourg, as well as in many countries of the Caribbean and even Canada. You can also study French in Africa. If you choose to study in a country other than France, you may be introduced to a specific dialect such as Canadian French, Cambodian French, or Belgian French. Of course, deciding whether to study in France or elsewhere will affect the study abroad experience you have. So evaluate how you intend to use the French language in everyday life and in your career before you decide where to study it. Click here to find out about French.
Italian
There are scores of universities across the 20 regions of Italy where you can greatly improve your Italian. When you enroll in an Italian language program abroad you’ll see that Italians live and breathe Italy. Living among them, soaking in their culture, and dining on their wonderful food are all part of a process that will improve your Italian fluency remarkably. Not only will you have the cultural experience of a lifetime, you will also gain a command of the Italian language that your classmates who study Italian in America can only dream of! Find out more about the Italian language by clicking here.
Chinese
Because the Chinese language, and its common dialects of Mandarin and Cantonese, have many sounds that Americans find unusual in the spoken language, and use characters instead of our alphabet in the written language, it’s sometimes very challenging to learn. That’s why many students opt to study language abroad in China. Immersing yourself in the Chinese culture and being forced to speak Chinese on a daily basis will greatly improve your odds of becoming fluent in it. Additionally, when you enroll in a Chinese language program abroad, you’ll be better prepared for conducting business around the world. You will have the benefit of being introduced to the customs and formalities of the Chinese people. That alone is a huge benefit for a young college graduate, it and can help kick-start your career in ways you’d never imagined! Learn more about the Chinese language by clicking here.