Survival Guide to your Third Year Abroad

Doing a Year Abroad as part of your languages degree in the UK is the compulsory, and often feared part of many student's university experience. Obviously, coming to a foreign country on your own, having relatively basic knowledge of the language, and not knowing anyone is a big deal. For me, I found that the excitement took over the first week and stopped me from feeling too homesick. But after the euphoria settled and the Erasmus welcome parties were over, that's when the realisation hit that I would be away from home for a whole year (with breaks but still) and it was time for me to make a life here. There is a lot of general advice that your universities give you before going away but I find it is best to hear it from someone who has done it.

Study/Teach/Work

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This is often a huge dilemma for most students. There is always the lure of teaching English with the British Council, I mean 12 hours of work a week for 800€ a month, does it get much better than that? But you have to consider whether this is what you want to do in the future. If you want to teach, then fantastic. But if it has never been something you have wanted to do, then the money won't make a difference, you won't enjoy it. Be logical, if you enjoy studying, study. If you want to gain some work experience, work. If you want to teach...

Studying

Some advice: from what I have heard, everyone who has studied has found it very different from going to university in the UK. Some European universities are infamous for their lack of organisation and structure. I know people that have waited weeks and weeks just for a timetable. Often too, they are branded as 'Erasmus students' and the professors don't make much time for them. What's more is that the common language of Erasmus students is English so for us, we just fall into the trap and we make friends, then don't bother integrating with the native students. Obviously it is hard as the native students will already have been studying there for a while and so already have their friendship groups. If this is the case and you're finding your not speaking much of the language, maybe try and arrange a tandem for once or twice a week. You might even make friends this way, don't worry about making mistakes, just go for it. A good thing is that the courses on offer in the universities are often very different to what you have learnt at home, so it's a great opportunity to learn something niche that you would never have a chance to at home.

Teaching

As for teaching, again, you will be speaking English most of the time. You will be able to talk with the teachers in the school, but you will have to talk English in class. Also, as it is only 12 hours a week, I have heard that language assistants can get lonely and bored... if they aren't keeping themselves busy with the rest of the time that they have off. But if you are independent and enjoy this lifestyle, then obviously that is fine! But teaching your native language, you often learn more about the linguistic side of foreign languages, so you will definitely gain insight on the functions and similarities between your native language and the language of the country. It is fascinating! You will notice links between the two languages and how they have evolved over time which often makes learning a second language a lot easier.

Working

As for working, I would generally say this is the best option. Completing an internship is extremely beneficial, for your language, for improving your interpersonal skills, and for gaining some insight of the real working world. You will be thrown into something new, as well as improving language from being immersed in the office. And nowadays, most internships are paid which is a great help. However obviously, there are some internships that will be entirely English speaking. Try and avoid these, make sure you know the working language before you accept the internship.

Accommodation

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When you arrive

Unless you have accommodation in a student residency, most students opt for renting a room in a flat. Book in a hostel or an Airbnb for the first few days/week when you arrive whilst you get to know the town and find a permanent residency. Try and arrange as many flat viewings as possible, the earlier in the week the better.

What to think about

Consider the location, this is a big factor. The distance you have to travel to your university/work place makes a big difference on how much spare time you have, how more organised you have to be, and also whether you can walk or whether you have to take a taxi back after a night out. There are a lot of things to take into account. Another thing, ask as many questions as possible during the viewing:

• The minimum stay required
• The deposit
• The safety of the flat
• The rules of having friends stay
• Who else lives there
• Whether the building is noisy
• If there is air conditioning
• Whether smoking is allowed
• Whether bills are included
• If there is WIFI
• When you have to let them know whether you want the flat, and vice versa... anything you can think of.

After you have viewed quite a few and you have found somewhere you would like to stay, send the landlord a message thanking them for the viewing and just say how much you would like to live in the apartment. This just lets them know that you are a willing, polite and responsive individual that they can trust to live harmoniously in the flat. It might give you the edge. The other students in the flat might also have a say in who they want to live there, so be friendly and enthusiastic if they are there during the viewing.

If the landlord hasn't got back to you in a few days, just send them a message asking if they can let you know as soon as possible, as you will have to arrange some other viewings. Remember, because of the culture of the country, they might not be as responsive as landlords back home, so chasing them up is quite a normal occurrence. If it is a negative response, don't worry, just keep looking online and arranging more bookings. You could even ask the landlords that you have spoken with if they know of any other flats, you never know. Ask people you have met, and if worse comes to worst, you might just have to extend your stay in the Airbnb/hostel.

Once you have found somewhere, ask if you can pay the deposit and sign the contract as soon as possible as you never know what might crop up. I had paid the deposit for a flat in Murcia, and I was contacted by someone I didn't know begging if they could have their old room back that I was due to take. It was quite a distressing experience as I didn't know what to say, but she had found another room for me that turned out to a better option for me, so it all worked out fine in the end.

Language opportunity

What nationality your flatmates are makes quite a big difference to your stay. Don't go for the easy option, try and live with natives if you can. It will be hard, especially as conversation between them is so normal, whereas for you, it will be difficult to join in and try to follow the conversation. But in the end it is definitely worth it. Just speaking a little bit every day, you will see an improvement. Even if their English is good, ask them to speak in their native language for your benefit. Ask them to correct your mistakes and teach you new things, this is ultimately the best way to learn. Don't hide in your room, try and eat dinner with them and suggest going out in a group for drinks. It is easier this way as there is more than just one or two people to talk to, the conversation flows more easily between a bigger group.

How to make sure you improve your language

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So, like I said, you will probably most likely make friends and English will be the common language. If this is the case, try and somehow meet some natives. However that may be.

Speaking

When you're out drinking at the bars, people are more likely to chat to you. This is the best time to practice, after you've got a few drinks down you, your confidence will be so much better and you won't care about the little mistakes that you are making so the conversation will be flowing. Trust me! We've all been there. Meet up with friends' friends, go for picnics, go to the beach... in a big group, its the best. Even if you switch between the two, you will be practising a little bit. Speaking is probably the hardest skill when it comes to learning a language, and one that you can't focus on back at your home university as you are in an English environment. So your Year Abroad is really your time to build you confidence in your speaking. It isn't about learning all the fancy phrases but actually being able to sustain a generally flowing conversation is definitely something you should aim for. And it is attainable, don't worry.

Vocabulary and listening

Watch the TV, listen to the radio when you're walking somewhere, gradually... you will see an improvement. Persistence is key, don't give up. Just spend a little bit of time every day dedicated to focusing on learning something new. Read some articles, watch series on Netflix with the subtitles in the other language, make note of the new words and phrases you a learning. Read the notes before you go to bed. Get in a routine and it will just become natural after a while. When you go out somewhere, look at signs, advertisements, menus...translate it in your head. Try and listen to other people's conversations, see if you can understand anything. It is about making a small effort, but regularly.

Ask questions, if you don't know how to say something or don't understand something, just ask them to explain it in a different way or slower. Some people won't be as patient, but if they can't see that you are making the effort and trying, then they're not worth hanging out with. Download an app that you can use without internet on your phone so wherever you are, you can look it up straight away without having to find WIFI.

Homesickness

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It will hit you when you're least expecting it. A song might come on that reminds you of someone back home, you might see a family altogether at a restaurant... you might just be sat in your room and bam, the tears start. It happens. For some people it gets easier, for others, not so much. But we each have our own way of dealing with it. We are so lucky that such technology exists like Skype or Facetime, for me, I feel like the person I am talking to is in the room. It's amazing and I know it would be so much harder if it didn't exist. Arrange for your friends and family to come and visit, or arrange trips to meet half way. Having something to look forward to really keeps you going. Keep a countdown app on your phone. Look on Trip Advisor for things that you can do, restaurants that you can go to. Plan, plan, plan! It will keep you busy.

Relationships

If you're in a relationship, the thought of a Year Abroad can definitely be daunting if you are not used to long distance. But it can work. You need to talk before you go, realise that things will be different, you will be busy, you might not have as much time to talk, but as long as you both understand and trust each other, that's all that matters. There will be ups and downs, there will be moments of doubt, but no relationship is easy, you have to work at it. Skype as much as you want, you will always have things to talk about as you are living in another country. Send care packages to each other once a month, send postcards, emails, just keep it fun! You could even save-up and plan a surprise visit, seeing the look on their faces is priceless!

Meeting people

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Whether you make friends with a lot of people, or make really good friends with a few people, it sometimes just depends on the situation. If you are in a small town, then you will most likely have a small group of people that you go out for drinks with, travel to neighbouring cities with etc. This is normally the case if you are teaching English or doing an internship. Most of the Erasmus university partnerships will be in bigger cities, where you will more often than not meet lots of people in the first few weeks. Get peoples Facebooks and phone numbers and stay in touch, go to everything that you get invited to, don't shy out! Join a gym, or a group, meet people there. Take additional language classes, you can meet people there. Go to events organised by Erasmus. A lot of people are in the same situation, they will be willing to invite you and meet up with you. It will be harder if you have a more shy nature but just relax, be yourself and try to make conversation.

Making the most of it

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Remember from the start, that you are out there to meet people and improve your language. Therefore, take every opportunity that comes your way. Try your best in the language but at the end of the day, as long as you know that you're making gradual progress, then you're doing just fine.

Travel to different cities, buses are often really cheap, especially if you have a student card. Try new foods, ask for the waiters recommendations, be open to something new. Take part in the town's festivals, events, celebrations... Invite all your friends from home, show them round, go to your favourite places, go to the bars, just enjoy it! You will probably never experience anything like this ever again, you have to make the most of it because before you know it you will be in 4th year sat in your room studying, it will most probably be raining and you will be longing to go back. You know its gonna happen. But you will make the most amazing memories and meet some real interesting people, it might change you as a person, but make you appreciate travelling more than ever before.

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