If you are one of those who are planning to learn a new language in another country this summer, you should know what you should do before, during, and after your summer language course abroad to guarantee you that you will have a fun and successful language experience.

The following are some tips on what you can do while preparing for your trip abroad:
Choose your target language.  Deciding on what language to learn will be very important because you will be learning everything about the language and how to use it in various ways.  You should also set goals in which language level you want to reach.
If you are a complete beginner in the language, better plan for an intensive course which lasts for at least three weeks.  Courses which last less than that time period tend not to give you all the things you need in order to be fully equipped with the skills in your target language.  It is best if your course lasts for four weeks or more so you will be fully immersed in the language and in the natural environment where it is spoken.

Choose the language school which best meets your goals.  You have to make sure that aside from the intensive language classes that the school offers, it also has flexible individual lessons and spare time activities which will make you experience using your target language in practice.  Also choose a school which presents all the information you need online such as information on airport transfers, accommodation, number of  students per class, and the mix of the nationalities of students.  Be sure to gather credible information about the language school before you book your course.  Prior to making your mind up about the language school and language course, learn about the experiences and opinions of the former students of the school.  That could be one of the reliable ways in finding out if the school and the setting will meet your expectations.
If it is your first visit to the city where you will be learning your target language, gather enough information about the city through guide books or search the internet and read about the place’s history and culture.  Once you arrive in the city you will know what to see and to experience.
Better get accustomed to the foreign language and try to spend some time listening to the language through audio magazines or tapes and CDs, and watching shows and films in your target language.

Once you are setting off for your trip, better take along with you a small bilingual dictionary of your target language which you can take with you all the time; and a player with headset which can play either CDs or tapes in your target language.  Also look forward to learning about a new culture and meeting people from various countries who are also learning your target language.  Better be equipped with the facts and figures of your own country or city so that you can also have something to share to the new people you will meet.  Also, don’t forget to be well-informed about the weather and climate of your destination so that you will know which type of clothing to bring!

So if I were you, I should get ready and prepare myself for a wonderful summer language learning experience in the city where my target language is spoken.  Who knows, it may just be the best summer of my life!

Summer is that time of the year when most students have a break from regular school and take the time off for vacations and other activities.  It is also the time when most adults would want to take a break from work and relax.  However, there are some people who have no fixed itineraries for summer.  If you are one of those who have no plans yet, why not become productive and learn a foreign language this summer?  In order for you to learn a foreign language successfully, you have to set goals in order to achieve what you want to learn.  Below are some tips which can help you learn foreign languages effectively during this warm and exciting season!

Set realistic expectations while learning a new language.  If you are enrolled in a language course, never expect to understand everything at the very beginning of the course.  If you are new to the language, it is not expected that you will be able to understand right away.  During the early period of adjustment you will be adjusting to the sounds and rhythm of the language but you will be surprised at your ability to understand the language as time goes by.  You should bear in mind that the only way to learn the language effectively is to keep on practicing.  You might make errors along the way but you will eventually learn from them.

Another tip is to study the language frequently but in shorter periods of time.  Some researches have shown that language learners learn more effectively using that method rather than learning infrequently for long periods.  Try to learn the language during your idle moments of the day such as repetition of words until they become more familiar to you.

In order to learn a foreign language effectively, you must study its vocabulary.  Vocabulary is the most important element of communication and if you happen to know more words, you will be able to understand and speak more words!  There are many ways to help you expand your vocabulary.  Try using flash cards as one of your learning tools.

Practice the language you are learning actively.  Whenever you can, try to speak the language out loud than reciting it silently to yourself.  That way you can practice your pronunciation skills effectively!

When you are at home and doing your homework for your language course, look up words and phrases you don’t know.  That way you will be able to expand what you have learned and you will be able to shed light on things you are not aware of yet.  It will be also helpful for you to study ahead so that when you go back to class you are already equipped with more knowledge.

It is also very helpful if you form study groups with your language school classmates.  You can do homework and language exercises together, study for examinations and guide each other as you learn the foreign language together.

As you go on learning a foreign language, identify your learning style.  Identify your strengths and weakness in learning the language then work hard to overcome your weaknesses and add more to your strengths.

If you really want to be fluent with the foreign language that you are learning, it is essential that you get exposed to it as much as possible.  It will be better if you can practice the language with a native speaker!  It will be effective to if you try to watch movies or listen to music which are available in your target language.

If you want to be more effective in learning your target language, better do all of your required tasks religiously.  Also, don’t forget to communicate with your language instructor incase you need help in clarifying things you are not completely aware of.

Always remember that constant practice will help you get through the challenges of language learning.  As you go along, don’t forget to enjoy yourself too!  After all, learning a foreign language is educational and fun!

Learn a foreign language and be productive this summer!

Summer is here and there are a lot of fun and interesting ways to spend it.  Learning foreign languages could be one of the things you might want to do this but you just don’t know which languages you can learn and where you can learn them.  Better read on and let me help you have a lot of summer fun!

The first step in learning a foreign language is to figure out which among the many languages in the world would you want to learn.  Ask yourself why are you interested in that language and why do you want to learn it?  You might come up with various reasons such as the usefulness of the language in your personal and daily life either for educational or career purposes; you want to learn the language because you want to be able to communicate with more people; or you just want to learn the language because you want to improve yourself by taking on a challenge!  Knowing what language to learn will give you the drive to be always interested in it and have the zeal to learn it as you go on in your life.  Whether it be English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, French or German, as long as you are really interested in the language, anything is possible!

The next step in learning a foreign language is to choose what mode of language learning would you want to devote yourself in.  There are so many options for you to choose from in learning a foreign language.  You can either learn through self-help language books and magazines, learning through audio tapes and CDs, and videos; learning at home with the use of language software; learning a language online; learning a foreign language in a language school in your hometown; or learning a foreign language in the place where it is spoken!

Learning a foreign language at home is one of the options you can make especially if you do not have enough budget for the other alternatives.  Language books and magazines are helpful in letting you understand the basics of the language that you are learning.  They can be good tools in helping you with grammar and constructing sentences but they can not fully aid you in developing your language skill since you will not be able to know how to pronounce the words in the right way.  Learning a foreign language with the help of audio materials such as tapes and CDs can assist you with the correct pronunciation of words and language accent.  Software and online language instruction can also help you learn the basic elements of foreign languages.  Watching movies and television shows, and listening to music available in the foreign language that you are learning can also supplement your knowledge of the language.  Learning a foreign language at home will give you the opportunity to learn the language at your own time and speed and at a cheaper price.

If learning through the instruction of a language teacher is what you want, you can avail of that by enrolling in a language school in your hometown.  There are some people who prefer learning by being instructed by teachers and if you are one of them, this option is for you.  Most language schools go through strict standard checks in order to ensure that students receive the best language instruction available.  A language school in your hometown can help you learn what you need to learn about the language with the help of teachers who are qualified to teach foreign languages.

The other option which could be considered as the ideal choice is learning a foreign language in the place where it is spoken.  Learning a foreign language abroad gives you the opportunity to be fully immersed in the language and in the culture of the place where it is the native tongue.  It enables you to put into use what you will learn from the language school in the natural environment of the language.  Aside from that, it also gives you the opportunity to travel and discover the history and culture of the place, meet its local folk, and enjoy its attractions.  You might think that it might cost you a lot but don’t fear since there are programs which are affordable and can surely meet your needs and wants.

Be productive by learning foreign languages this summer and for sure you will have a lot of summer fun and memories you will definitely treasure!

I don’t know if you will agree with me but I have learned from various resources that for all the people in the world, the major indicators of identity and important factors in development, communication, education and social integration are languages.  It has been said many times that languages are very important since they connect people together with better communication and harmony.

Cultural diversity is one characteristic being accentuated by languages and since globalization has put many languages under serious threat of harm or extinction; cultural diversity is also on the way to being debilitated.  A lot of things in cultures such as traditions, distinct expressions and thinking styles, and memories will surely be under heavy strain or will eventually disappear from existence once languages will not be preserved.  I believe in that too that is why I think learning new a language or more is essential.

One of the best solutions to this growing problem of language threat will be the promotion of multilingualism.  People who are speakers of a mother-tongue are encouraged to use and promote their language to their local community, in their country and in the world; and they are encouraged to learn and use other regional and/or international languages as well.  That way, languages will remain active not just in the communities where they originated from but also in other parts of the planet.  So if I were you, aside from learning new languages, I should also preserve my mother-tongue or first language.

The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages.  UNESCO will be the lead agency to promote the said event since the language issues are fundamental to its education, social and human sciences, sciences, information, culture, and communication mandates.  UNESCO has encouraged its partner organizations to promote and protect all available languages, especially the endangered ones, in all collective and individual situations.  It will be great help to UNESCO if we do our parts too even in our own little ways.

There are numerous ways on how to promote language and multilingualism projects such as research and analysis, network development, information dissemination, capacity building, awareness promotion and varied local, regional or global outreach programs among the few.  Most of these activities are interrelated but they can also attend to particular issues.  Educational projects which promote quality learning by supporting bilingual and multilingual education especially with the use of the mother-tongue at all formal and non-formal aspects will surely be able to help promote multilingualism together with culture-centered projects on cultural diversity; social and human sciences endeavors focusing on human and cultural rights and languages; science projects aimed at developing and disseminating of information to overcome language barriers in different communities; and information and communication projects which concentrate on building and promoting linguistic and cultural diversity in international media and information networks.

If you are really concerned with language preservation and learning, better do your part by participating in events and projects which are supported by your local community, national government or international organizations.  Your part in safeguarding your mother-tongue and learning new languages will eventually make you a good resource for the promotion of multilingualism.  If you want to alleviate your multiple language skills yet you are in need of funding; try searching for scholarships, grants or financial aid from different educational, government and private institutions which sponsor language learning studies either on a short term or long term basis. It is never too late to help preserve languages and promote multilingualism.  Learn new languages, and help preserve them!

Learning a foreign language is one of the most interesting and beneficial educational activities that one can take advantage of especially during summer.  However, some of those who are interested in summer language learning do no have enough money to fund their language studies.  Are you one of them?  Still wondering how will you finance your language learning activities this summer then?  Don’t worry because there are so many ways on how to look for money which can help you with your language endeavor.  Read on and better try all of them out!

One of the many ways on how to fund your summer language studies is to search for free scholarships or grants.  Try searching on the internet for free scholarships and grants funded by your government or by private sectors.  Be patient in going through the terms and qualifications and how to apply for those scholarships and grants.  There could be a tight competition for international grants and scholarships so you should be aware that there will be lot of interested applicants who would want to be rewarded with scholarships; prepare to submit your best qualifications in order to be one of the lucky beneficiaries.

Another way to fund your language studies will be by inquiring information from your school.  Most schools and universities have departments which assist their students in finding funding for educational prospects, have scholarships and some offer financial assistance to those who are in need.  Scholarships and grants which are campus-based are less competitive than those on an international or national level so you should apply for them whenever there is available funding.  While in your school or campus, don’t forget to go to the best information center—the library!  The library is an information hub that will surely help you with finding information for educational funding.  Scholarships, financial aid, fellowships, and grants can be found among the many directories in your school library so better head there and ask assistance from the librarian.

You can also seek financial help from local organizations in your community which offer support for language studies.  Language associations, cultural organizations, and other society-based groups can help you with your language interests by helping you financially and/or arranging programs for you through exchanges or through scholarships.

One more option for you to acquire funding will be through financial aid funded by your government.  Most governments in various countries sponsor different kinds of financial aids from grants, to work study, to loans.  You should also be aware that some of these available grants and loans can also be used for studying abroad!  You can apply for government funding either online or in government offices, such as the education department among others, which handles such concerns.  Some programs funded by the government might also help arrange your other needs for your studies abroad.

So what are you waiting for?  Summer is just around the corner so you better start searching and applying for available scholarships or study grants right now so you can take advantage of an exciting and fulfilling summer language learning program abroad!

An ideal summer for anybody young or young at heart has got to have fun, fun, and more fun in it!  However, fun has a relative definition for every individual.  Others might think of summer fun as doing favorite hobbies or interests, or going away on a vacation, or earning money through a summer job, or enrolling in a program that increases one’s knowledge.  Others might think of summer fun in other ways I have not mentioned yet but among the things I’ve already said, there is one option that will fit all the kinds of fun I’ve stated earlier: learning a foreign language abroad while working as an intern!  When you decide to learn a foreign language abroad and work as an intern, you will surely have one enjoyable summer!

Learning a foreign language abroad while working as an intern has a lot of interesting and amusing experiences lined up your way.  Learning a foreign language will be really cool and
remarkable since you will get to add a substantial amount of knowledge and skill that will be beneficial to you for your further studies or future career.  Learning a foreign language has its rewards such as being able to communicate with more people who speak your target foreign language; being able to enjoy different forms of media such as books, music, films and more available only in that language; and being able to explore the culture where that language is spoken; and being able to expand your marketability when looking for a job which gives plus points to those who speak other foreign languages.  Learning a foreign language opens a lot of doors for you so you better go and start learning now!

Learning a foreign language abroad contributes fun to the whole language learning experience.  Learning in the place or country where a language is spoken will enable you to travel, see, discover and explore a different place and an interesting culture!  You will also have a chance to meet new people in the place where you will be learning a foreign language; be exposed to and learn from a culture which may be totally different from yours; and get to visit places which may be the pride of their country or of the whole world.

Learning a foreign language abroad while working as an intern will help you expand your horizons and help you gain more experience for your field of study or for your own personal interests.  When working as an intern, you will be able to have first-hand knowledge of how it is to work in a foreign land; you will be able to enhance your knowledge in the field you will be working as an intern; and improve your language skills which will be very useful while you work.  Being able to experience life as an intern in a different country can also add more advantages for your studies or career in the future; an internship can also teach you values such as hard work, discipline, camaraderie, and professionalism.  Most internship programs also have incentives for interns such as stipend and/or academic credits; but the greatest reward will have to be your experience.

To be able to have a totally fun experience learning a foreign language in another coutnry while working as an intern, it is better if you apply for grants or programs which could help shoulder your expenses or which could help arrange most of the things you will be needing such as the work and workplace where you will serve as an intern, accommodations, meals, travel, and other important things.  Being able to be a part of a program or being a recipient of an educational summer grant will be something worthwhile.

If I were you, I shall start searching and applying for available grants which I can take advantage of this summer right at this moment.  Summer is just around the corner and who knows, I might be able to have a lot of fun learning a new language in a foreign country while I work as an intern after all!

Learning a foreign language is one of the most interesting things a young student would really love to enjoy during summer especially if it involves learning a language in the country where it is spoken.  However, not everyone can afford to enroll in language programs since some programs would require a substantial amount of money as well as other expenses such as travel fares, accommodation and meals.  What are you going to do if you are really interested in developing foreign language skills abroad yet you seem to be out of budget?

One of your options will be applying for an educational grant that covers summer language learning opportunities.  Some grants such as the Leonardo da Vinci Program and the Erasmus Exchange Program which are funded by the European Community, have been helping students who wish to study abroad through various ways such as internships and partnerships with educational institutions and different sectors in diverse industries.  These grants are among the very helpful ones especially to young people who wish to expand their horizons and improve their quality of life through education, training and cultural immersion in the participating countries.  The only obstacle with grants is that not everyone can avail it.  There are thousands or perhaps millions of eager applicants who would want to take advantage of available grants funded by the national governments of partner countries or by sponsored programs, but not everyone can be granted funding.  So what should you do then if and when you will not be among the selected few whose applications will be granted?

One of the main solutions to that predicament will be a student loan.  A student loan is a kind of loan that is offered to students to help out in payment of the costs of professional education.  It is a form of financial aid but it differs from grants and scholarships in the sense that it must be paid back.  A student loan more often than not carries a lower interest rate than most loans and it is usually issued by the government.  Most of the time a student loan is complemented with student grants which you do not have to repay.  There are different kinds of student loans available in various countries and most of them will only require you to pay once you have finished your studies and when you are already earning your own income.

Among a loan and a grant, a grant is the ideal type of financial aid for your language learning endeavor since you will be granted free financial assistance which will cover a substantial part of your program.  However, if the grant that will be awarded to you doesn’t cover all the program expenses and you still need additional financial support, then a student loan will be your other option.

Grants and loans work out well together as long as you know how they work and how they can benefit you and your wish to learn a foreign language abroad this summer.

If you are a young member of the European Community and you want to improve yourself over the summer, read on and know more about the Leonardo da Vinci program.

Leonardo da Vinci is a program by the European Community which has a main goal to support national training strategies through funding a wide array of transnational partnership projects designed at improving quality, nurturing innovation, and promoting the European dimension in vocational training.  It was established by the EU for the field of professional training to support the partnership of EU and EEA Member States. The program promotes projects which are based on cooperation between a range of participants in vocational training such as vocational schools, universities, training bodies, chambers of commerce, businesses and a lot more.  The program which is sometimes referred to simply as Leonardo, aims at helping people improve their skills throughout their lives.

Leonardo is a program which has three major objectives such as to improve the skills and competencies of people; to improve the quality of and access to continuing vocational training and the lifelong acquisition of skills and competencies; and to promote and reinforce the contribution of vocational training to the process of innovation. The program aims to improve the quality and skills of people especially the mobility of young people in initial vocational training at all levels which can be achieved through work-related apprenticeship and vocational training with a vision to promote employability.  The program also supports measures which qualify for support from the European Community such as mobility, pilot projects, transnational networks, and reference material and language competencies.

The Leonardo program is best known for its mobility projects.  It encourages young people to spend a working period abroad from three to twelve months in order to achieve valuable intercultural and practical experiences.  The program gives grants to students from the EU Member States and EEA countries who are interested in doing internships abroad and learning new skills.  There are many reasons why you should apply for an internship such as to expand intercultural experiences, to be familiar with a foreign working environment, to apply the academic knowledge you have learned, and a whole lot more.

Some of the conditions of the internship program of Leonardo include you to be a student in one of the European Community countries; an internship that will last from three months to a year for students from universities or other institutions of higher education, or two months to one year for those who are within twelve months of obtaining a diploma or educational degree; the activities and projects to be carried out by you as an intern must be related to your studies at your home university or educational institution, if your internship is not related to your field of study you are not legible for a grant; and the internships must be accomplished on a full-time basis with at least thirty-five working hours per week.

If you already know the language being spoken in the country where you wish to be an intern, that is a bonus but if you still need to learn the language, there are several available language programs prior to your internship abroad.  Most interns are required to have at least basic knowledge of the language in the country of internship. You can avail of language courses either at your home country or the country where you are going and you need not worry since the program can refund a portion of your expenses for your language courses.  Once your internship starts, you will be able to improve your skills in your field of study and you will also be able to develop your language skills since you will be immersed in the language and the culture where it is spoken.
If I were you, I will learn more about the kinds of Leonardo grants on hand for young students by doing more research on the matter and if I will be able to avail it.  Who knows, a great adventure lies ahead!  Being an intern in another country and being able to explore and experience its language and culture is surely one great way to spend summer!

Are you one of the thousands of students who are interested in studying abroad?  Better read on and let me tell you about Erasmus Exchange Program grants and how you can avail of them.  Let me also tell you about the language courses that will be very useful for you prior to your study period abroad.

The European Commission funds grants to university students in thirty-one European countries who are part of the Erasmus Exchange Program which enables them to take part of their degree in another country.  The Erasmus Program aims to promote exchanges of the students between the universities in EU Member States and the European Economic Area; to support the Pan-European mobility of university staff; and to promote the joint development for European study programs.  The Erasmus study period in another country can provide a lot of things for you such as having a challenging and fun experience; having the confidence to live in another country; gaining new perspectives on an academic subject; acquiring new or improved foreign language skills; meeting an international network of friends; having travel opportunities throughout Europe; earning academic credits and having transferable employment skills.

Before you set off to your target European country, you must apply and be granted the Erasmus Exchange Program.  You are eligible for an Erasmus grant if you are a citizen of one of the EU States or the EEA countries or if you are recognized as a refugee, stateless person or a permanent resident of the country you are in right now.  You should also be a fully registered student on an undergraduate or post-graduate course at a European university either in the second, third or final year of your course; and your course should be a part of an approved Erasmus Exchange Program.  The study period abroad will last for a minimum of three months and not more than ten months; approval is needed for courses which last for more than ten months but it should not exceed more than twelve months unless there are very exceptional circumstances.  To apply for a grant, you should check out your university if it is a participant of the Erasmus exchange program and if your course provides the opportunity for a study period abroad.  Your name should then be forwarded to the International Office for an Erasmus grant for the following year.  If you will be part of the program, the grant that will be given to you will depend on the length of your study period and the country you are going to study in.

In order to prepare you for your Erasmus program in another country, you will be given the opportunity to study the language of the host country for three to eight weeks in the host country under the Erasmus Intensive Language Courses or EILCs.  The EILCs are specialized courses in the less widely used and less taught EU languages and languages of other countries participating in Erasmus and it is an initiative supported by the European Commission.  The advantages of EILCs include no tuition fees, twenty hours of language training per week, special cultural components within the program, an Erasmus grant for the duration of the course, visits to places of interest in the host country, and meals and accommodation though there may be fees involved for such services.  The EILCs will be very useful for you since you will be equipped with the needed language skills once your exchange program starts.

Not everyone may be given wonderful opportunities such as Erasmus grants but I encourage you to seize the day and inquire about the Erasmus Exchange Programs in your schools or universities.  Who knows, maybe you will be given a chance that will surely make an impact in your life!

Do you want to learn German in one of the most beautiful cities in the world this summer?  Actilingua Academy in Vienna, Austria is one of the finest German language schools in the city which has a summer language program for young students aged from 12 to 17 years old.

Learn the German language as you explore the wonders of beautiful Vienna during summer by enrolling in Actilingua’s Junior Summer Program.  The program will be conducted in a prestigious private school founded by the Empress Maria Theresia and it offers the best learning and recreation facilities.  The school is located in the heart of Vienna and is just a walk away from the famous sights of the city and is easy to reach through public transport.  The school has sports facilities, a large park, tennis and beach volleyball courts, and football pitches which are available for your use with other students after your German lessons for the day.  You will be accommodated on campus together with other students from different parts of the world in modern rooms that will surely fit your needs; and your meals will be provided by the school canteen which offers full board and snacks during breaks.  You will also study in small and multinational groups which will be easy to manage and facilitate by the language teachers.  The teachers and staff of the language school provide leisure programs on the school grounds and they also have exciting ways to show you the very best features of Vienna.

The German language lessons offered by the school are held everyday from Monday to Friday with your choice of 2, 3 or 5 week programs.  You and the other students will be exposed to grammar, vocabulary, oral comprehension and pronunciation of the German language in thoroughly structured lessons. The mode of instruction focuses on the use of language in real-life situations outside of the school premises, and communication and language games and work in pairs and groups.  There are two types of summer courses; Summer Course 1 is composed of 20 German language lessons per week and Summer Course 2 which is composed of 30 German language lessons per week.  In order for you to be prepared for a certificate in Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch or ÖSD which is better known as the Austrian Language Diploma, you can take additional 6 German lessons to either Summer Course 1 or 2.  When you get to finish the requirements and meet the qualifications, you will be issued a Zertifikat Deutsch for young adults.

There is a wide array of programs for you to enjoy in during your cultural and leisure time such as the sports program which involves football, table tennis, swimming, volleyball and aerobics; creative activities such as music, handicrafts, theater and pantomime groups; and other activities which include film evenings, excursions, treasure hunts, disco on the school premises, barbecue, and Vienna sightseeing.  Other optional leisure activities include tennis and riding lessons.  You will learn more than just the German language once you decide to learn German in Vienna, you will be learning about a lot of things too especially about the culture of the city!

If you are totally thrilled to learn German in one of the most beautiful and culturally attractive cities in Europe, tell your parents about it now and have a great time this summer in Vienna!