Accelerated TESOL School

Foreign Language ExperienceLearning a foreign language can be a fun and important skill to have in the world today. Since business and trade with other countries has become much easier, (In 2010 over 27 billion dollars were spent in international trade having foreign language experience can give you a leg up on the competition. Having the ability to speak another language can greatly improve your chances of being hired for a job. Companies want to invest in people who can help their business be successful with the help of language learning. Many of us have at one time or another taken a foreign language class or classes in school. It’s a great way to be introduced to other cultures and customs. Even if you didn’t have the opportunity as a student to study a foreign language doesn’t mean it’s too late. There are plenty of ways to get acquainted with foreign language. One of those ways in through some sort of cultural exchange. Studying abroad to gain some foreign language experience is often a popular choice among students today. During the 2008-2009 academic year 260,327 U.S. students studied abroad. Through studying abroad students can really learn a lot about themselves, their own culture and the culture of others in an unbiased manner. The best way to learn a language is through immersion. When people study in a culture other than their own they have a higher success rate than of those who study in their own country. When you begin to study a language for yourself and not just to fulfill a requirement in school, you really begin to understand the people of that language and culture in which it belongs. How do you study a foreign language in a culture entirely different than your own? Some people are able to do it all on their own and be motivated by their own goals. Others, however, need a little more structure. No matter what your learning style is, you can always find a way that is helpful to you to learn the language of your choice. How do you get started? If you are a student you already have an advantage in the search for going abroad. schools have great connections for getting students to the destinations that excite them. However, if you’re not a student which route do you take? There are plenty of programs and companies out there that put together trips and tours for those interested in language learning. Searching the internet is a great way to start making connections and finding the right path for your language learning journey. Many people today have found that teaching english overseas gives them a great opportunity to get in touch with a different culture and to learn a new language. Not only are you getting to meet new people and learn the language but you are benefiting so many people by teaching. In many countries they don’t have native english speakers teaching in their schools. By teaching overseas you are giving english language students a great opportunity to hear and learn firsthand from a native speaker. Just think how wonderful it would be to have a native japanese speaker teaching you japanese instead of a non-native speaker. TEFL provides a great course in how to teach english to non-native speakers. Taking the opportunity to learn how to teach english is a great first step in your own language learning journey. My husband and I taught oral english classes in China for 7 months and it was incredible. It’s not always easy but we definitely learned a lot about ourselves and about how students learn and how the chinese culture works. Based on our experience in China I would definitely recommend traveling abroad and learning a new language. So next time you’re thinking about learning a new language just remember that there a lot of options to look into, no matter what your age or level there is something for everyone. Teaching english can be one of the most beneficial things you ever do for yourself and for those you’re teaching. Never underestimate your ability to change someone’s life through teaching.