Like many of you, constant wanderlust and curiosity course through my veins. I studied abroad in Asia twice, traipsed about through Europe, lived in Spain for a year, and am now back in Iowa working with high school foreign exchange students. As a constant student of the world around me, I find nothing more valuable than learning from other people and celebrating diverse cultures. There are many great tips and resources on this site that I hope you dive into, but there’s an even greater resource just outside your door: the international community.
Throughout my travels and even more so now that I’m back in the Midwest, I’ve found that international friendships enrich our lives in ways that are hard or even impossible to find elsewhere. As you go through your language-learning journey (and just life in general) I urge you to reach out to the diverse communities in your cities. Quite simply, international friendships matter because people matter. Here are just a few ways that my international friendships can enrich your life both here and abroad during your language learning adventures.
Having a Practice Buddy to Stay Sharp
I’ve been back from Spain for a little over a year now and I cannot tell you how quickly my Spanish has drifted away. Within months of returning it
was like my memory had been erased and I struggled to pull words out of my Spanish reserves. It is rare that I’d come across native Spanish speakers here in Ames, but when I did I made it a point to interact with them. I occasionally meet up with a group of middle aged Mexican women for lunch just so I can hear them speaking in Spanish. I have very little to offer to their conversations about gardening and their husbands’ work, but it’s a great chance to immerse myself in the dialogue and I don’t take it lightly. Reading and writing in a language can only take you so far. As you’ll hear from so many sources it is vital that you practice your conversational skills. And who better to do that with than a native speaker?!
was like my memory had been erased and I struggled to pull words out of my Spanish reserves. It is rare that I’d come across native Spanish speakers here in Ames, but when I did I made it a point to interact with them. I occasionally meet up with a group of middle aged Mexican women for lunch just so I can hear them speaking in Spanish. I have very little to offer to their conversations about gardening and their husbands’ work, but it’s a great chance to immerse myself in the dialogue and I don’t take it lightly. Reading and writing in a language can only take you so far. As you’ll hear from so many sources it is vital that you practice your conversational skills. And who better to do that with than a native speaker?!
This is How You Learn the “Real” Language
Even if you already feel fluent and confident in the language, native friends are the best way to pick up colloquialisms and slang so you don’t sound like a text book. Many phrases and sayings are developed locally and different accents cut out certain sounds or even verbs. Spanish has so many little phrases that don’t directly translate to English, and it’s those small yet vital parts of a language that will make you more conversational and help you communicate more effectively.
![Celebration Dinner]()
FOOD!
FOOD!Take it from someone who is constantly hungry, international friends will be your link to all the best places to eat when traveling. Whether you’re staying somewhere long-term or just passing through, locals are the best way to avoid (or show you how to indulge in!) the tourist traps. Some of the best meals I’ve had in the world were due to the suggestions of the friends I made in hostels. When it comes to restaurants their advice is sacred. Honor it.
But I also understand that many of you are learning languages from your American homes. Here, it’s even more crucial that you find international friends because you’re not constantly absorbed by the language. International friends can teach you about traditional food from their cultures, giving you a chance to work on specific vocabulary, phrases, and skills that will no doubt enrich your language learning experience.
Forget the Language, Let’s Talk about Culture![2014-06-05 001 039]()
When I lived in Spain, international friends were all I had! I had moved there not knowing much Spanish, which I’d say is pretty ill-advised, but these kind people took me under their wing and taught me more and more each day. The beautiful thing about my community is that they were so eager to learn other languages. Having a young American girl who didn’t speak Spanish was like a free Rosetta Stone set to them. I soon understood that these Spaniards and I had one giant thing in common. We wanted to speak the other’s language. We quickly set up conversation exchanges, speaking for 30 minutes in English and the next 30 minutes in Spanish. We’d meet over coffee or for a walk on the beach, but regardless, we got to share our lives and our stories while learning how to converse in another language. I learned about family traditions, Galician history, and even the social-political climate there. They asked about American culture, politics, and many stereotypes they heard about our country. I would never have learned as much as I did about Galicia and Spain (or even America!) had I not taken those moments to really connect with the community around me.
This is the reason why I do what I do. I work for Iowa Resource for International Service, a non-profit based in Ames, IA that facilitates adult and youth exchange programs. Every year we bring in about 30 high school exchange students from Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia to live with volunteer host families throughout Iowa. Getting to look at your culture through an international perspective is one of the many privileges of this job. I’ve seen students and families grow and be challenged in ways they never expected or even thought possible. Whether you’re living abroad or loving life in right here in the Midwest, a cultural exchange is one of the best ways to open your eyes and dive into another part of the world.
One thing I love about Language Base Camp is that it’s not about the quick-fixes or even travel-centered vocabulary. This is a site that wants you to become more globally aware and immersed in a language without even having to leave your home. International friendships matter because people matter. And there’s no better way to be a global ambassador than reaching out to the international world around you.
Peace.