8 Ways to Retain Language Skills After Studying Abroad

We’re sure you have heard it before and you’ll certainly hear it again: An education is something that can never be taken away from you. And while there is no need to worry about the burglars and robbers here, we can become a bit rusty with the knowledge and skills that we have attained when we don’t exercise them — and your foreign language skills are not an exception. So...you'll want to know how to retain language skills after studying abroad!

You don’t intentionally want to lose your skills after learning a learning a language in a foreign country, but time has a funny way of sneaking up on the best of us. You just spent a month, a semester, or who knows, maybe multiple years learning a language in a foreign country. Nicely done!

But now what? You’re back in the land of your mother tongue and those constant opportunities to improve your second language grammar and expand your vocabulary have simply seemed to vanish. Some Abra-Kadabra stuff going on over there. Do yourself a favor and consciously try not to lose your skills after learning a language in a foreign country. With the right intentions or more precisely, the right priorities, you will be well on your way to maintaining your language skills after studying abroad.

Here are some of our favorite ways to keep your new foreign language skills fresh.

8 tips to retain and keep your foreign language skills sharp

1. Podcasts

These bad boys and girls are gold. Podcasts are an excellent way to help you not lose your skills after learning a language in a foreign country. And, the majority of them are free. Find the news or other topics of interest in your new favorite language and push play! Whether on your commute, during a coffee break, or while you’re cooking dinner, there is always time for some passive learning like such.

2. Pen-Pal

Maybe you were born with that smartphone already in your hand, and if so, this might seem obsolete to you. Back in the day, we used to send *hand-written* letters to other youngsters abroad to share our language and culture. It was fun and there wasn’t a shortage of anticipation for the letter that traveled for over three weeks. Bref. Sure you could still rely on snail-mail like we did when that was all we had, but why not find a native speaker to exchange e-mails, SMS, or even phone calls with to keep up on your written foreign language skills? It’s not the same thing as learning a language in a foreign country but it’s a great window into the language and culture.

3. Literature

Discover your local library or speciality bookshop in search of some foreign language material. If they don’t have the language you’re after, don’t hesitate to ask and odd are they can order what you might be looking for. Getting your hands on some literature is one stellar way how to improve foreign language skills.

4. Films

Watching films is an excellent way to not lose your skills after learning a language in a foreign country. Many films online offer multiple screenings in multiple languages now. If you’re looking to keep up with Portuguese, for example, finding a Portuguese film would be the preferred option, but watching an American film that has been dubbed into Portuguese can do the job too. Some will tell you not to use the subtitles while others will say absolutely. Do what you feel more comfortable with. Being able to read the subtitles can be great for your grammar and vocabulary. You know what’s best for you.

5. Language Clubs & Meet-Ups

Find other travelers in your community who study the same language and go out for a picnic or snag a coffee together. Speaking with other non-native speakers is a great exercise: our vocabularies are different, the way that we have learned to express ourselves often varies, and our accents are certainly not the same. This is also a great opportunity to share your experience in that foreign country with someone on a local level. You might even have a native-speaker living in your community that you can connect with. Post an ad at the public library or online seeking a language exchange partner. You can do it!

6. Maintain those friendships…

...that you made while abroad. This is the less-formal version having a pen-pal, but equally effective. Keep in touch with those (both locals and fellow foreigners) that you met to keep the spirit alive. Maybe try to send a text once a day in your foreign language, or ask them for some film and literature suggestions. Not only will this support your language progression, but it also helps maintain that link that you created by going abroad in the first place.

7. Enroll in supplemental language courses

Check out classes at your university or a local community college. See what they have to offer and if there’s a suitable class for your level. While it’s not the same as learning a language in a foreign country, it can still give you the structure and environment needed to improve your skills. While you’re at it, see if the university or local community has a an existing language club. Most universities that offer language classes usually have student-led organizations specific to those languages (think French or Spanish club). This is a nice way to quench your thirst for improvement.

8. Plan that next trip!

Still wondering what to do after you learn a language abroad? While taking into account numbers one through six (what you just read ;) to, start scheming for your next trip! Being on the ground, in the country is one of the most effective ways to learn the language. In this utopia we could abandon ship and move abroad when we want. While that might be a bit too ideal, there are many things that you can do to maintain your language skills after studying abroad.

Not one of theses tips is better than the other. Pick your poison. Odds are, if you’ve made it this far in your education, you know how you learn best. A well-rounded approach which involves reading, listening, speaking, and writing are an almost guaranteed way to improve or simply maintain your language skills after studying abroad. Maybe be a bit pragmatic about it and create a schedule for yourself. “Monday’s I will make an effort to listen to a podcast” and Thursday’s I will meet with my German club” type of thing. The idea is to set yourself up for success to not have any regrets. You’ve invested both time and money, and to lose what you’ve started created could be a bit of a bummer.

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Learning a language in a foreign country is not an isolated experience

Meaning, what happens abroad need not stay abroad. Must not stay abroad! Connect those experiences from abroad to your life back at home. Build that bridge between study abroad and study...studying at home.

Your language learning doesn’t have to stop just because you are home and the semester is over. There are countless ways how to improve your foreign language skills after studying abroad. Sometimes, it’s as simple as turning on the TV, cracking a new novel, or downloading the latest podcast. Being intentional about keeping your skills up-to-date is an excellent start.

Look no longer for what to do after you learn a language abroad. Your experience never really has to end, rather, it can evolve and become a part of you. As Ludwig Wittgenstein once said that “the limits of my language are the limits of my world.” What are your limits?