Prepare for Studying Abroad: Language Learning for Students
Studying abroad soon? Language learning for students heading overseas: what to learn before departure, a timeline and how LingFit supports it.
An exchange semester or a full degree abroad is one of the best language classrooms there is. But arriving with some preparation changes everything: you meet people sooner, handle administration with less stress and avoid the first-month isolation many students describe. This guide to language learning for students studying abroad gives you a timeline that fits around coursework.
What you actually need
Think in layers:
- Survival: greetings, directions, food, transport, numbers.
- Student life: introducing yourself, small talk, asking for help, social plans.
- Admin: registering, banking, housing, health. Words for forms and offices.
- Academic: vocabulary for your field, if teaching is in the local language.
Your priority depends on whether your courses are in English or the local language. Check this early.
Timeline: six months out
Begin with the main course. LingFit's main course is a structured path of chapters, levels and lessons from the first words, running from A1 to B2. If you have never studied the language, aim for ten minutes a day. If you are rusty from school, move quickly through the early chapters and slow down where gaps show.
Check that your language pair is covered: LingFit offers courses for specific directions among English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, Polish, Turkish, Czech, Danish and Hungarian. See lingfit.app.
Three months out: add personalisation
Now create Extra Packs. Type a topic or a list of up to 20 words, and the app builds a custom chapter. Good packs for students: "student housing", "university offices", "in the seminar", "going out with friends", plus a pack for the technical terms of your major. If your university sent a glossary, split it into packs.
One month out: listening and speaking
Start tuning your ear. The video feed gives short clips with subtitles you can tap, translating words as you watch. Look for relaxed, everyday speech. Pair this with speaking: say sentences aloud and use speech recognition to check pronunciation. Prepare your self-introduction until you can deliver it smoothly: where you are from, what you study, why you are there.
Easy reading
Easy-language stories help you get used to reading in the new language without struggling. Save unfamiliar words so that you arrive with a personal vocabulary list.
On arrival
- Speak the language even when others switch to English.
- Join clubs, sports or conversation groups where the local language is spoken.
- Keep your daily ten minutes going. Immersion plus structure is quicker than either alone.
- Use the games (Flash, Ping-Pong and Tug-of-War) to challenge fellow learners you meet.
Mind the academic gap
Academic language is different from everyday language. Listening to a lecture is harder than ordering lunch. Ask for slides in advance, record lectures where allowed, and make packs for the vocabulary of each course. Don't panic if you miss a lot at first.
Budget and cost
LingFit is a subscription app, not free. The annual plan has a 7-day free trial, which is helpful for testing during your preparation. Some schools receive a partner discount, so ask your language centre.
Looking after yourself
Moving abroad is tiring even without a new language. Keep your study sessions short and kind, especially in the first weeks when everything is new. If you feel overwhelmed, return to easy material, such as a story you already understand or a game round, and rebuild confidence. Making one friend who speaks the local language patiently is worth more than any app, so keep an eye out for study groups, tandem partners and student clubs.
FAQ
How early should I start learning the language?
Ideally three to six months ahead, with a short daily routine. Even one month helps with the basics.
Do I need to speak the language to study abroad?
It depends on your programme's teaching language. Even if courses are in English, daily life benefits from local language skills.
How do I learn subject-specific vocabulary?
Make custom packs with your field's key terms or use the glossary your university provides.
Can I keep learning while abroad?
Yes. Continue a short daily session and use the local environment as extra practice.
