While attending school in Canada, you will have endless opportunities to improve your language skills in English or French—or both. Whether you’re making friends with locals, doing homework, or watching TV, you will find yourself immersed in the language.
Read on to find out how you can improve your language skills fast when in Canada.
Avoid Using Translators When You Study in Canada
Thanks to modern technology, it has never been easier to quickly translate a word or a sentence. However, while this can speed up the conversation, it can actually slow down your learning. You are more likely to remember a word and improve your language skills if you spend some time trying to explain it without a translator. Think about how to describe the word, or even use hand gestures! It will also mean that you won’t feel panicked the second you’re out in the world without your trusted Google Translate.
Change Your Phone or Device Language Into English or French
The main reason that students develop language skills so quickly when they are living in another country is because they are completely immersed in the language. Changing your default phone, tablet, or laptop language to English of French will help you improve your reading and vocabulary while you study at a Canadian high school.
You will quickly pick up the vocabulary for your device functions and settings. This will naturally improve your language skills without you even realizing it!
Changing your phone language to English or French will improve your reading and vocabulary
Make Friends With Native Speakers
The best way to improve your language skills while you study in Canada is to practice with native speakers. When you’re at school, you can make friends with native speakers and improve your language skills at the same time!
If you live with a host family, you will have daily opportunities to speak with native speakers. This will improve your listening skills, as you will need to listen and understand native speakers who speak at a normal pace. It will also improve your pronunciation.
Don’t Be Scared to Make Mistakes
One of the main things that holds students and young people back from learning a language is fear. If you’re too scared to speak in English or French with your classmates or host family, then you will get less practice and slow down your progress.
Try to focus on communicating what you want to say and expressing yourself, and worry about getting the grammar right later! No one is going to judge you for making mistakes. They will be happy that you are making an effort to learn their language, and will be supportive. Let them know if you want them to correct you during the conversation, or if you prefer to save any corrections for the classroom!
The more you practice, the more you will learn
Learn Phrases, Not Just Words
When you’re learning a new language, you might just learn one word at a time. You may even keep a vocabulary book where you add new words. One way to speed up your learning is to focus on learning phrases or pairs of words instead. Not only will this help you to learn a wider vocabulary, but it will also help you to remember the context those words are used in.
Do you want to improve your language skills with an international study program?
Contact CAPS-I to find out more about studying in Canada!