Your language study trip is about to start. It’s okay to be a bit anxious but keep in mind that everyone else feels the same way. Our schools are used to dealing with students from all over the world. Even if no one speaks your language, you will always find a way to make yourself understood.
Here are some tips to make the first day of your language study trip with Up Abroad a success.
Identify the route to school
The day before your first day of class, find out which route to take to get to the school. If you are staying with a host family, ask your host family for directions to the language school. Remember to save your host family’s phone number and address. It might be useful if you forget the way home from school.
If you stay in a residence, ask your housemates to show you the way to school, it will break the ice between you.
We recommend that you download the Rome2rio app for all your travels. There you will find all the route possibilities.
Be on time
On your first day (and every other day…), make it to school on time. Usually, we will ask you to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the course in order to introduce yourself at the reception. Find out about the traffic conditions from your host family or your roommates if you take the bus or the metro. Research the best travel solution in advance and don’t forget to print out a map if you can’t use GPS on your smartphone.
Participate in class
It is better to participate in class and take the risk to make mistakes than to remain silent. More, it is the opportunity for the teacher to move the course forward. The only way to progress in the language is to practice it: reading, writing, discussing, all occasions are good to put your trip to profit linguistically.
Many students have difficulty practicing the language studied. Generally, you think that other people speak the language better than you. Realise that if these people are among you, it is because they necessarily have difficulties.
Open up yourself to others
A language trip is made up of discoveries, risks, and constant renewal of what you have learned. Opening up to others is based on a series of steps that will become habits, over the course of your stay. Ask questions, sympathize with the locals, and multiply social activities in order to practice intensively and continuously the language you want to acquire. Language mistakes will be inevitable. It is important to view these mistakes as practical lessons and building blocks of your progress.
You will probably be a little nervous on the first day. Be sure, you are not the only one. All the students in the school have been in your shoes. From day one, the lessons involve a lot of group work and they promote discussion. So you’ll have no problem chatting and making new friends from all over the world, whether in class or during breaks. You can plan activities together and of course, practice the language!
Take your administrative documents with you
When you arrive at school on your first day, you will be asked to show off an ID document. Some schools will ask you for confirmation of your course and a copy of your insurance policy. You can find a list of all the documents you have to take with you in the travel file that our advisers will send you.
Take some money with you
The first day of the course also serves as an introduction day. The school staff will tell you where to go for coffee, meals, etc. in the area.
Also, the program of activities will be presented, and you will be able to book the ones that interest you. Whether it’s for activities, coffee, or lunch, remember to carry some cash with you.
Remember that once the stress of the first day is over, you will have an unforgettable experience!!
