Do I Have to Speak the Language When I Move Abroad?

A guide for beginners

The short answer is: no, you don’t. I knew plenty of teachers in Korea, for example, who had little interest in learning Korean. They were busy, and it’s a tough language. I knew au pairs in Spain who barely spoke Spanish. Not everyone had a chance to learn as a student.

If you’re not moving to the country for very long, you can get away with not learning the language.

The longer answer I’ll give in the form of a few questions:

• Would you like to deepen your understanding of the culture?
• Would you like to expand your possibilities in terms of friendships, access, and localities?
• Would you like to be able to function in daily life similarly to how you function back home?

I understand having an aversion to studying, especially something as daunting as a new language. Depending on where you’re going, you might have a steep hill ahead. Japanese is by far the hardest language I’ve studied. A part of me still wants to try, but most of me want to just visit and not worry about it.

But visiting as a tourist is a lot different from moving as an immigrant.

As a tourist, the majority of your stay will likely be in areas where there are other English speakers. As an immigrant, you might be the only foreigner in your building or on your street.

Unless you have local friends always available to help you with everyday tasks, you might want to consider learning at least enough to get by.

Everything you take for granted in English won’t be so easy when you can no longer read or write. It’s going to be tough when, not only do you not understand what is being said to you, but all you can say back is “Hello,” and “Thank you.”

If you want to simulate this experience, I wrote a 2nd-person story just for you. I hope it will immerse you in the extreme discomfort that is possible when you can no longer communicate with the people around you.

Maybe you’d never put yourself in an unfortunate situation like that, you’d take a few more precautions. Good!

• But what about when something is wrong in your apartment?
• What if you’re lost without phone service?
• What if there’s an emergency?

When bad situations happen, you’ll want as much knowledge as possible.

Not to say those emergencies are the only reasons you might want to learn a little bit. Plus, that isn’t motivating enough for most people. Most people learn a language out of some kind of love, not out of fear.

• What if a kind stranger comes up to you and asks where you’re from? That happened to me hundreds of times in Korea. Once I knew the different ways I could be asked, it was easy to answer in Korean.
• What if you’re in a taxi and you know an easier way to get to your destination? With just a few simple words, you can help them and save yourself some time and money.
• What if you see someone cool and you want to talk to them? You could make a lot of new friends, even with a small amount of Korean.

Here’s a bit of encouragement: even if your Korean is terrible, many Korean people WILL cheer for you. If you’re a foreigner and you can pronounce even some words intelligibly, they will appreciate your effort. Just the fact that you’re trying is endearing and delightful to many of them. I’ve been praised for the bare minimum before, and it’s likely you will be, too.

It’s easy to say, “Okay, okay, I’ll learn!”

But how?

We have an overwhelming amount of choices. There are thousands of blog posts, YouTube videos, courses, books, university majors, apps, tutors, and more. Which ones work, which ones are free, which ones are fun? Which ones are a waste of energy, time, and money?

I can’t fully answer that, unfortunately, as I’m still exploring that answer for myself. What I can do, though, is tell you what helped me survive in South Korea, plus my commentary as an English language teacher. Though I’m using Korean as my example, I believe these tips could help with any language.

Tip #1: Learn the language IN the language.

If you’re a beginner learning Korean, I recommend this YouTube channel over any other. It has gotten more popular since I found it, and it deserves to blow up even more.

Watch this channel, repeat after the professor, take notes in Korean, and do the homework in the comments. Watch how quickly and easily you understand. If you’re not in Korea yet, start today and keep going, using your departure date as your motivation.

I believe in learning the target language using that language as much as is reasonable. Figuring out vocabulary and grammar yourself (using only pictures, gestures, and context clues) is far more powerful than memorizing rules and words out of context. When you can’t use your own language as a crutch, you’re forced to piece together the language yourself.

If you’re not learning Korean, but you can find a similar YouTube channel, I think it will be more helpful than any textbook.

Here are some other tips for continuing learning Korean as a beginner, specifically for once you’ve arrived. If you’ve stopped studying because you’re too busy or too unmotivated, you can still keep learning using these tips.

Tip #2: Read everything!

On the bus or in a taxi, I’d look out the window and read every sign, billboard, license plate, anything I could. I used the time constraint of being in a moving vehicle to make myself speed up. I’d sound out the words in my head, or quietly aloud, and eventually, I could read really quickly.

Sometimes, I even understood what I was reading.

The great thing about Korean writing is that it is so straightforward, as it was designed to be. You don’t even have to understand what you’re saying to read a complete sentence. One day, I’ll write more about the magic of hangeul. For today, just rest assured that it is the easiest writing system in the world.

Tip #3: Keep a notebook.

Not a big one like you’d use to study, but a small one for writing down little things you learn on a daily basis. As you live in Korea longer, you’ll accumulate more knowledge, and it can be easy to forget. You can include little drawings to help you remember, but try to keep it all in Korean to force your brain to work.

Tip #4: Do a language exchange… maybe.

If you start to become an intermediate learner, then awesome! A language exchange should help. You can become more conversational in a laid-back atmosphere by attending regularly and making new friends.

If you can’t put sentences together yet, I wouldn’t recommend a language exchange. As beginners, we can often be timid about speaking a new language. When we don’t speak, the exchange can become a one-way street. Usually, the Koreans in attendance will have higher English levels, and they will want to practice. If you want to help some Koreans with their English, this is a great way to do it. But if you want to learn, too, you have to come with the intent of speaking.

It might help if you can find a language exchange group with designated “Korean Time” and “English Time.” Even if you don’t say much, you can listen, absorb the language, and try your best.

If you’re meeting up with a group of friends to practice, though, tread carefully. A language exchange will only work if you set fair boundaries… and it doesn’t turn out to be a recruitment tactic for a cult.

I’m definitely writing a post about my cult encounter someday. Stay tuned.

Conclusion: A Language Teacher’s Perspective

The best part about these tips is that they are all based on real exposure to the language. I have taught thousands of students, and it was always clear which students knew “book English” and which ones knew “real English.”

When you have little exposure to real examples of your target language, you can sound strange and stilted to a native speaker. But if you’re exposed to “real” things (stories, songs, movies, conversations, YouTube videos) from the beginning, it’s incredibly helpful. You get a natural flow in your speech, you have a greater lexicon, and you understand what you’re saying a lot better.

Because of your studies, you’ll be able to enjoy your time in Korea a lot more.

You might still feel a little stressed out. You’re still a beginner, you’re new to the country, and you may need help with daily life.

The good news is you can (likely) ask for help! Your coworkers, friends, and even fellow English speakers will (likely) help you out. I hope you have someone in the country to turn to for help.

Worst case scenario, or if no friends are available, there are options. Whether you need to make an appointment, order food, or call your landlord, don’t worry. There are cheap, bilingual translators who can help you.

As you study and learn bit by bit, you’ll find yourself asking for help less often and becoming more independent. It takes time, patience, and consistency, but you can do it! Expect mistakes, but don’t focus on them. They’re part of learning and, remember, the locals are just happy that you’re trying your best.