Building your Fluency in your community
Have you noticed that your language fluency is waning? Do you desire to speak with native speakers but you don't have access to a large community where you reside? No worries! Below I've made a list of five ways to continue learning and growing in your language until you can afford to take that tune-up trip abroad where the language that you are learning is spoken as a native language.
1. Netflix. I am in love with Netflix! For about $8.00 a month you have access to thousands of movies. What makes this really helpful is that while mainstream American movies may be lacking, there are hundreds if not thousands of foreign films. Chances are that there are a couple in the language that you are learning. I don't know about you, but listening to authentic speakers is just about as good as listening to a native speaker live in and person. www.netflix.com
2. Meetups. This is a website dedicated to getting people who love to do things together. If you live in or near a big city, you will have access to more activities. Language meetups are very common. The good thing is, if you don't find a meetup near you, you can always start one. While organizers to have to pay a nominal fee, for that fee you get a website to recruite members. www.meetup.com
3. Universities. Most foreign language departments host language conversation groups for their students. These meetings are sometimes advertised to the public and sometimes they are not. But if you contact the department and speak with the professor that teaches the language that you are interested in, you never know what might come out of it!
4. Hosting. Perhaps you've seen advertising for international community coordinators where study abroad programs want community members to link them with families interested in having international students. While the point is for these international students to learn English, learning about their culture and cooking can be just as important as the language. You can consider hosting a student, or organizing the placement of students through a company. Also, if you are not interesting in hosting for the long term, usually the agreement can last from a few weeks to an entire year, you can consider hosting international professionals.
http://exchanges.state.gov/host/host-family-programs.html#hostprograms
5. Volunteer. Contact the nonprofits in your area to see if they need help with interpretation or translations in your language of interest. You never know who is living in your neighborhood! Not only do you have an opportunity to give back, but you can learn more about the people who live around you.
1. Netflix. I am in love with Netflix! For about $8.00 a month you have access to thousands of movies. What makes this really helpful is that while mainstream American movies may be lacking, there are hundreds if not thousands of foreign films. Chances are that there are a couple in the language that you are learning. I don't know about you, but listening to authentic speakers is just about as good as listening to a native speaker live in and person. www.netflix.com
2. Meetups. This is a website dedicated to getting people who love to do things together. If you live in or near a big city, you will have access to more activities. Language meetups are very common. The good thing is, if you don't find a meetup near you, you can always start one. While organizers to have to pay a nominal fee, for that fee you get a website to recruite members. www.meetup.com
3. Universities. Most foreign language departments host language conversation groups for their students. These meetings are sometimes advertised to the public and sometimes they are not. But if you contact the department and speak with the professor that teaches the language that you are interested in, you never know what might come out of it!
4. Hosting. Perhaps you've seen advertising for international community coordinators where study abroad programs want community members to link them with families interested in having international students. While the point is for these international students to learn English, learning about their culture and cooking can be just as important as the language. You can consider hosting a student, or organizing the placement of students through a company. Also, if you are not interesting in hosting for the long term, usually the agreement can last from a few weeks to an entire year, you can consider hosting international professionals.
http://exchanges.state.gov/host/host-family-programs.html#hostprograms
5. Volunteer. Contact the nonprofits in your area to see if they need help with interpretation or translations in your language of interest. You never know who is living in your neighborhood! Not only do you have an opportunity to give back, but you can learn more about the people who live around you.
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