The Importance of Language Study in Expatriation

An adequate language study is essential during an expatriate project or journey. There are many learning opportunities, between schools in presence and many courses online. Among them, I can only recommend a new reality as 17 Minute Languages, which proposes a fast and effective method based on only 17 minutes of study per day.

Despite its importance, knowledge of languages is on time one of the points most neglected by future expats, in particular for languages considered "hosty" as French, German and Dutch.

Especially in France, where English is relatively little spoken and studied, an excellent level of French is already necessary only for reasons of "survival". But the reasons that make it essential to study the local language do not stop here. In my over 10 years of exile, I think I found at least three very good.

1. Dealing best with work and bureaucracy.

Although in international companies the language of use is English, in several offices it is extremely common to use the language target of the country, especially in convivial moments. It is also not uncommon that, in the case of France, we prefer to have working meetings in French if all the staff are French-speaking. Feeling long "excluded" from certain dynamics can prove counterproductive and even annoying enough for those who speak French little or nothing.

Important documents such as employment contracts, payrolls and tax returns are obviously in the local language, whose lack of knowledge can easily lead to mistakes of understanding and bureaucratic problems of various kinds. Official sites are generally only available in French. None of you, I imagine, will want to pay extra taxes by mistake or buy a eye drops at the pharmacy instead of a nasal spray! Small and large here pro quo which can be resolved simply by mastery of the language.

During a bank or town hall appointment, do not expect a fluent Englishman from officials: as I have already pointed out, the English level in France is not high and people do not even feel obliged to study it. After all, "we are in France, we speak French here"!

2. Socialize and overcome cultural barriers.

One of the most widespread prejudices about expatriate? The French (and not only) will never be friends of an immigrant because they "cold, unsocial and faithful to their own narrow circle of friends". I could only agree on the third statement, since the social dynamics in France (as in the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark etc.) are really different from the Italian ones. But how, instead, do you call a people cold with whom you cannot even communicate? Between two people who do not speak the same language there will always be a certain distance, as will the risk of misunderstanding. Moreover, mastering the foreign language also allows one to grasp irony, intonation and possible informal expressions, all of which are very important in an experience abroad.

The study of languages in an expatriate project is not merely for professional purposes. With the right patience and determination it becomes an opportunity to break down cultural barriers, face new challenges and eventually realize that the locals of the host country are not so cold and uncomfortable.

I often repeat that the desire to learn a language is the very first sign of curiosity towards a new culture. In the case of the French, believe me, this is highly appreciated.

3. Open and train your mind.

A Czech proverb reads: Learn a new language and you will have a new soul. I couldn’t agree more.

Language learning is food for the soul like few other things in life, and only those who enjoy speaking two or more foreign languages can understand it. With every new word, the mind opens to an infinite rose of possibilities, as if it were discovering a new country every day. If you are a polyglot, do you mind: do you feel the same when you speak English? What changes in your tone of voice when you speak French instead? What I call happens "the magic of multilingualism", which makes even more important and fascinating the course of study of languages during the expatriate.

If you have other questions about language learning or want to find the most suitable method for you, Write to me and book a free call now!

 

*(Article in collaboration with 17 Minute Language)