Language Learning for Erasmus Students: A Semester Plan
Heading on Erasmus? A semester plan for language learning: what to do before departure, in the first weeks and during exams, with realistic weekly routines.
An Erasmus semester is a short, intense window. In four or five months you will settle in, attend classes, make friends and try to have some fun. Language can quietly slip down the priority list, because English often gets you through. If you are planning language learning for Erasmus students, a clear plan for three phases will keep you improving without turning your semester into homework.
Before you leave
Use the weeks before departure to build a basic foundation. Aim to cover:
- greetings, introductions and polite requests
- numbers, prices and times
- transport, directions and accommodation
- ordering food and drinks
- student life: lectures, library, exam, deadline
Fifteen minutes a day is more effective than a long weekend session. If you already have some skill in the language, check whether your host university runs a language course for exchange students, and register early.
The first two weeks
Arrival is exciting and tiring. You will be handling paperwork, orientation events and a lot of new faces. Keep language practice tiny but regular: one short session each day, plus one real-life task in the local language, such as ordering your coffee. Say yes to events that are not run in English only. Your friends from many countries will often default to English, so you must choose to create local-language moments on purpose.
Using the main course as a backbone
LingFit is a language-learning app for iOS, Android and the web, with a structured main course in chapters, levels and lessons from A1 to B2 for the supported language pairs. For a student, it works well as a daily anchor: short sessions on the tram or between lectures, with clear progress. Pair it with real-life use, so that what you study on Monday appears in your conversations on Tuesday.
Create vocabulary for your life
Your semester will have its own vocabulary: the subject you study, the sports you join, the flat you share. In LingFit you can type a topic or a list of up to 20 words to create an Extra Pack, such as flat-sharing and chores or in the lecture hall, and the app generates a custom chapter. Targeted packs mean the words you study are the words you hear.
Make local friends
The strongest language boost on exchange is not an app but people. Join a sports club, a choir, a volunteering group or a language tandem. A tandem partner helps you in the local language while you help them with your own. Begin with simple topics, and bring a few prepared questions so that the conversation does not stall. If you feel shy, our article on speaking without fear offers gentle steps.
Mid-semester slump
By week eight, many students find that the novelty has worn off and exams begin. Do not drop language study entirely. Reduce it to a floor you can keep, for example ten minutes a day, plus one conversation per week. Staying in the habit is easier than restarting after a month.
Exams and coursework
If your courses are taught in the local language, build subject vocabulary early. Collect the key terms from each lecture, learn them in sentences and review them regularly. Listen to short clips on related topics, and ask lecturers or classmates for clarification when you are unsure. Saved words are useful for this: bookmark terms in a story or a clip, and review them as flashcards.
What to do in the last month
Gather what you have learned, and decide whether you want to continue after returning home. A good plan is to keep a short daily routine going, so you do not lose your progress. If you finish your exchange with a level you are proud of, consider taking an official language test, which can help later for jobs or studies.
Pricing in one line: LingFit is a subscription app, and only the annual plan starts with a 7-day trial, whereas the monthly plan bills straight away. Details live at lingfit.app.
FAQ
Do I need to speak the local language on Erasmus?
Not always, but it greatly improves daily life, friendships and cultural understanding.
How much should I study during my exchange?
A short daily routine of 10 to 20 minutes plus regular real-life practice is a realistic target.
How do I avoid always speaking English?
Choose local activities, set language-only moments with a tandem partner and practise ordering and shopping in the local language.
Can I keep learning after the semester?
Yes. Keep a smaller routine going and use stories and videos to maintain your listening and reading.
