Four Tips For Embracing The Language Learning Journey

When you hear the phrase “language learning”, how many of you think about your past language classes? Have you ever judged your own ability to speak or learn another language based on your grades in those classes?  

I ask you those questions because I can relate to it. In college, I dropped out of a low intermediate class due a high likelihood that I’d fail the course. Nonetheless, I moved to Spain with beginner Spanish and that's when I started to learn to love how I learned Spanish. I listened to fun music in the language, used language learning applications and also searched for information surrounding my interests to enforce grammar and vocabulary learned in class abroad. 

If you’re taking a short trip, or if you’re going to study abroad, you’ll enjoy preparing and practicing your language learning skills ahead of time in a way that's fun for you.   

These are our four tips to embrace your own language learning journey:

1. Listening is Crucial!

The first part of your language-learning journey starts with taking some time to embrace the sounds and the new language. At first, you might feel like the words and phrases are bouncing off you and that’s normal when you start listening to another language!

If you’ve taken language classes in the past, fantastic! You already have some tools in the toolbox, but the biggest part of the journey involves listening because it’s the majority of what we do as human beings.

We actually spend more time during our lives listening than writing, reading, or speaking. According to the University of Missouri, we spend 45% of our lives listening as opposed to 30% speaking, 9% writing and 16% reading. Isn’t that amazing?

2. Find Your Music In Your New Language

To take your listening to the next level, you have to find some good music in your new language. Everyone has their favorite genre of music, and chances are that your music exists in another language! You’ll love the process of language learning if you find songs and artists that grab your attention.

If you search the genre and the name of the language then you’ll be surprised what you find, and don’t be discouraged if the music or song is fast! As you listen to the song more, you’ll go from hearing mainly noise and catching a word or two to understanding phrases and eventually understanding the entire song.

There’s a website called LyricsTraining that allows you to listen to a beginner, intermediate or advanced song that allows you to type the lyrics as you hear them. It was one of my favorite tools when I started learning Spanish!

3. Focus On Your Interests

Beyond only music, you’ll widen your vocabulary in your new language if search for your interests in another language. One of the easiest ways to start embracing a new language is consume content in the target language. If you like sports, you can watch games in the language (if possible), search for news articles or social media posts in the language.

You can find this information easier than you think! For example, on social media, if you search hashtags in the other language then you’ll find a lot of content in the language. 

4. Incorporate Language-Learning Apps Into Your Routine

Free language applications like Duolingo provide a fun, interactive way to track and build your foundation in the target language. They help you start to focus on making the correct sounds and mastering your pronunciation during your free time. Although they start with some basic phrases and vocabulary, they help you master the fundamentals of the language that you can start to use and incorporate.

In the end, we have to integrate our interests and our learning style into our language learning journey. Luckily, we have the internet which has given us more tools than ever to have access to materials in other languages. We also have more access than ever to hear more about experiences surrounding language learning.

Are you interesting in taking your language to the next level before you go abroad? You should definitely check out Consumer Advocate's extensive breakdown of language learning materials here to see which one might fit your needs! 

Three Reasons Why Travel Empowers Women

Guest Feature by Kristen Richards

When you’re standing in the airport, passport in-hand, and ready to embark on a journey abroad, under all the excitement and anticipation are often nerves.

It’s little stressful for just about anyone to take off to a new place and be away from all that’s familiar, but this is especially true for women. But walk right into that discomfort, because there’s a whole new world on the other side.

These are my three reasons why traveling abroad empowers women:

1. There’s Time for Solace

At home, it’s so easy to get roped into a daily routine. Whether you’re working, going to school, or both, it’s hard to juggle all of those commitments, let alone find time for yourself.

I think especially as women, we not only get swept up in our daily routines, but often we try to take care of friends and loved ones around us.  And in doing so, we can lose sight of ourselves.

Aside from having time to experience a new culture and discover a new place, one of the beautiful things about going abroad is you have ample moments to sit back and watch the world go by.

When I had the opportunity to study in Pau, France, one of my favorite things to do was grab my music and take a run down by one of the major rivers in the city. Not only did it help me feel like more of a local, but when I would finish my miles, I would pause my music, close my eyes, and listen to the water rumble.

Having moments for myself were not only enriching, but when I got home I made a point to take that time for me.

2. Strengthen Your Self-Confidence

I think when women talk about wanting to travel or study abroad, it can often be met with others’ anxiety and nerves. In this person’s mind they are only looking out for your personal safety. But while they have no ill-intent, hearing their  fears over and over can be discouraging.

I was nervous when I left for Pau. I barely spoke any French, I had never been away from home for that long, and I had never travelled alone. However, I found that not only was I surrounded by others who were excited to see the world, but many of them like myself were nervous.

With each coffee order, bus ride, and weekend trip, I started to show myself that I could do it. I began to realize that I came to a new country, I was learning a new language, and I was planning and executing successful trips for myself, even though I was away from all that was familiar.

I am certainly not advocating throwing caution to the wind - one should always be aware of their surroundings whether abroad or home - but the trips I was able to take with my female friends were among the best. Helping each other through inevitable mishaps because things didn’t go as planned not only helped us learn we could rely on each other, but ultimately that we could rely on ourselves.

Whether you take a short trip abroad or study abroad, you see that these experiences bring curious and adventurous individuals together which not only makes for great memories but life-long friends

3. You Face and Conquer Challenges Along the Way

Even the best laid plans are going to change. It’s going to rain when it was supposed to be sunny. The bus is going to arrive late. The museum you wanted to go to has a four-hour wait. Unforeseen mishaps are going to happen. And that’s okay.

Travel is going to teach you to roll with what’s happening even when you’re out of your element.

Ultimately, whether you were finally able to order your coffee correctly or come up with a new plan on the fly after a booking cancellation, you’ll prove to yourself time and time again that you can do whatever life throws at you. And that’s something you’ll always carry with you.

There’s endless amounts of opportunities to explore and there’s no better time than now. My travels and long-term study abroad experience have not only allowed me to discover other countries and cultures, but have taught me about myself and ultimately made me a better, more confident woman at home and abroad.

Ready to take that next step? Start planning your program with EdOdyssey today!

5 Customs You Should Know When in Public in China

Once you are in China and adventure out into the public, there are certain cultural differences that you should keep in mind.  As you go out to restaurants, for example, there are tricky nuances that can be a little different from the states. However, the truth is that everything that you experience will  be new to you in one way or another and it’s important to your time abroad as a learning experience.

I found these eye-opening moments to be especially true during my trip to China.  After learning from my experiences and asking the right questions, I have a much better idea of what one should expect when being in public and traveling to China.

These are my five customs that you should know when you’re in public while you’re in China:

1. Tea Etiquette

You may find yourself having tea in a restaurant or in someone’s home, and you always want to follow proper tea etiquette.  If someone offers you tea, you do not want to reject it.

When you with others, if their tea cup is empty or running low on tea, you want to fill their cup all the way to the very top for them.  I learned this lesson when one of my friend’s after dinner told me that I should have filled our host’s cup of tea when it was empty, and from now on, I do this at any meal in China.  

It can be very impolite to not fill the cup all the way, as it is a sign of respect since you are a guest.  If your cup is running low but you would not like any more tea, it is acceptable to politely ask that you would not like any more tea if someone wants to refill your cup.

2. Do not tip

The practice of tipping varies from every country, and in China it does not exist.  It may seem normal to tip waiters and waitresses at restaurants or cab drivers in your culture, but you do not have to in China.  In fact, any type of service worker may be offended by your tip, as it perceived as pity and suggesting that they need extra money.  

I did not know this before arriving in China, and one time when the bill came, I was calculating the tip, and my friend said, “what tip?”.  This took some getting used to, but it is a part of the culture to adapt to.

I’m on a cable car going over a river in Chongqing!

3. Crowded spaces

Soon after you arrive in China and use the super-convenient subways in major cities, you will realize that there are a lot of crowded public spaces in China.  This is not something to worry about, since navigating and using public transportation is super easy in China.

While you should never touch others in China, the one exception is perhaps riding on the subway and waiting in huge lines.  You have to get used to people around you pushing and shoving a little. I experienced this in Shanghai, as the only way for me to get off at my subway stop was nudging my way through the crowd.

4. Do not point with one finger

This custom may seem random or strange, but it is true in Chinese culture.  You want to make sure that you are never pointing at anything or anyone with one finger.  

I learned my lesson first hand when I pointed to an item on a menu board, and my friend told me afterwards that I should not point, especially in public spaces.  It is seen as extremely rude, and you should rather gesture to something with the entire palm of your hand, with no fingers specifically pointed at something.

Enjoying breakfast at a friend’s house!

5. Accepting a host’s generosity

Whenever someone hosts in China, whether in their home or at a dinner, you should be very respectful of your host.  Part of this is accepting your host’s generosity. I would advise that you do not offer to pay if you are being hosted by someone.  This can be seen as rude, since if there is a clear host, they are expecting to pay the bill. Most people in China never split bills, as one person serves as the host.  I once found myself in Chengdu wanting to pay the restaurant bill, but I was refused countless times, and since then I have seen numerous fights over who will be ‘host’ and pay the bill.  These good-spirited fights are very common and pretty hard to avoid, but if you are being treated to a meal by a host, you should always express your gratitude and say thank you after a meal.

Whenever you find yourself in public in China, you want to always be mindful of your actions.  This self-awareness is especially key since you will stand out in the crowd as a foreigner. As long as you take these  different customs into account when you’re out in public in China, you should have no problem going out and exploring this beautiful country

As you learn from your mistakes, you should never be afraid to ask someone you know in China or EdOdyssey any questions you may have because it’s a beautiful part of the experience.  With these tips, you should have a better idea about life public and restaurant culture in China!

Five Important Tips When Meeting People in China

Before the beginning of any trip, or study abroad, it is a good idea to first learn about the culture and cultural differences that exist in that country.  This was one of my biggest worries before heading abroad to China and I know that many of my friends and family share this fear.

Here are my top five tips to keep in mind when meeting and interacting with people for the first time in China:

1. Be polite and formal

During your time abroad, you will meet tons of new people.  You may have an idea of what an introduction resembles in your culture, but not every introduction is the same.  When first meeting someone in China, I learned you should always be formal and polite.

A formal greeting includes a verbal “nĭ hăo / 你好” (hello - informal) or “nín hăo / 您好” (hello - formal for older generation) and a slight bow of your head.  I once made the mistake of initiating a hand shake, but the other person did not reciprocate.

One of my friends gave me Chinese Oreos as a gift!

If you do have a close relationship with someone, this initial interaction could vary, but when formally meeting someone new, you should go the route of a verbal greeting with a slight bow.  It is best to not touch and to not hug others, unless the other person initiates it. It is also a very nice gesture to give someone a gift, especially if it is a pre-planned event like a party or meeting.

2. Bring a proper gift

Whether you are meeting someone for the first time in China, or someone you know, then you want to make sure you are giving the right gift.  In China, you do not want to give a gift that may have a negative meaning in Chinese culture. Some examples of bad gifts would be clocks (signifying parting or death), umbrellas (signifying bad luck), and four of anything (four is a very bad number in China, as its pronunciation is similar to the pronunciation of the Chinese word for death).  

When I was in China, my Chinese friend had asked me what gift I wanted from them.  I said that I just needed a cheap pair of shoes, and to my surprise they said that they could not give me shoes as a gift. I asked why and they said that the Chinese word for shoes is very similar to the word for bad luck or evil. This was one of my first instances of learning about Chinese superstitions and what gifts you should avoid giving at all costs!  

Some good gift ideas that I have given include something typical or symbolic of where you are from like a mug, pens, or postcards.  Fruit, teas, and silk are also very common gifts within China.

I made those slippers look good!

3. Respect their homes

In China, virtually no one wheres shoes inside their home. When entering most homes or apartments, there will likely be a collection of slippers for you to put on as soon as you walk in the door.

Whenever I entered someone’s home, I always found it to be funny when none of the slippers would fit me, since my feet were too big!  I would either look ridiculous walking in small slippers or just walk around in my socks, which is totally acceptable too, but you should never walk barefoot in someone’s home.

4. Be punctual

An important thing to remember in China is to always be on time.  I once overslept in the morning while a friend was waiting for me outside to go to a meeting. She wasn’t upset, but I could tell that she was annoyed and my tardiness was not culturally acceptable.  As someone who is frequently “fashionably late” in the United States, I quickly learned I needed to break this habit fast. Over my gap semester I became much more punctual. Delays still happen, and when they do, I also learned it is best to not give an excuse but rather humbly apologize to those you kept waiting.

Taking a tour of a school before I did a presentation.

5. Avoid certain taboo topics

Similar to many other cultures, there are certain topics that aren’t casually spoken about in daily conversation.  One day I was curious if these topics were similar to taboo ones in the States so I asked one of my close friends.  She explained to me that politics, religion, death, and any historical or political incidents of China’s past should not be talked about, especially with new friends or casual acquaintances.  

You will find that people will be very interested in you and where you are from since you are a foreigner, and this a great conversation starter.  Typical (and appropriate) conversations include talking about food, sociocultural topics, and your level of Chinese!

In short, these are just a handful of the many cultural differences I experienced during my time in China, and you are bound to encounter too. Don’t be afraid of making a mistake, either. As you’ve read, I’ve made a handful myself.

What is most important, I found, is that you enter with an open mind and willingness to learn, understand, respect and find beauty in these cultural differences. Whenever I wasn’t sure my friends, EdOdyssey, and really anyone I encountered in China was always enthusiastic to help and patient with me as I learned. I can’t wait to return to China and learn more.

Want to learn more about China? Check out my blog about How Chinese Food in China Changed Me Forever!

How Chinese Food in China Changed Me Forever

What is one of the best parts of traveling abroad?  It’s the food, of course!  Eating different foods native to a country, authentically prepared by locals is special, as it is not the same here in America.  Trying these native foods will only widen what you know about a country's cuisine. 

I discovered that this is true for Chinese food. Chinese food in China is much more diverse and rich in tastes and spices than I had ever imagined prior to my travels.  

Through trying dozens of new dishes in China, my perspective on Chinese food has changed, but for the better!  I now have a love of Chinese food that I did not have before, and wish that more dishes in the states had as much flavor as those I tried for the first time in China.  

Spring rolls, one of my favorite American Chinese dishes!

Prior to traveling to China, I was a little worried whether I would really enjoy the food or not.  Before my gap year, I had always stuck to certain routines and I was not a very adventurous eater.

I was not sure what types of food I would be trying, but I have always enjoyed eating Chinese food here in Massachusetts ever since I was young.  However, I was only used to the steak teriyakis, vegetable lo meins, egg rolls, spring rolls and pork fried rices of American Chinese cuisine.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love these dishes from my local Chinese restaurants! However, I did not realize how much variety of food there actually was to try in China and the cultural differences that I would learn to appreciate during my time abroad.

Chinese Food in China: My First Impressions

Within the first few days in China, I started to get acclimated to Beijing but I did not enjoy everything that I ate at first.  At first, I mostly disliked how breakfast in China is nothing like a hot American breakfast because there were no donuts, bagels, or egg sandwiches.  

Check out the Peking Duck in the center!

One of the most common breakfast items that I was first introduced to was “baozi”, a steamed bun filled with pork. The first time I ate baozi, I felt strange eating a lot of meat for breakfast.  This was simply an adjustment for me, as I then began to eat delicious lunches and dinners.

In my first few days, I fell in love with one of Beijing’s most famous dishes called Peking duck. Some of my friends had told me that we were going to one of the best Peking duck restaurants in Beijing, and they were not wrong!  

The Peking duck we dined on was amazing, with thin, crisp skin on the outside and delicious duck meat on the inside, and numerous tasty sauces to complement it all. After I traveled to different cities in China, I began to learn that each place was famous for a particular dish and locals were extremely proud of their food.

Load your bowl with side ingredients and then pour in the hot pot!

New Foods, New Beginnings

As I began trying new foods, such as Guilin mifen (rice noodles) and Shanghai “xiao longbao” (soup dumplings), I started to acquire a taste for these foods that I had never tried before in my life.  While I was in Chengdu, in the Sichuan province of China, I learned about the ingredients of an authentic “huo guo” (hot pot), and learned my lesson to wear the apron while doing so! By the end of my trip, I knew that I would miss the diverse range of foods from China once I got home, and realized that there was nothing to be weary about before my trip.

After my time abroad in China,  I realized how much more of an open mind I had when it came to eating and trying new foods.  I also soon realized that the Chinese food here in America is different from that actually in China.  

The Taste of Nostalgia

Attending school in a city, I am fortunate to have a “Chinatown” nearby, which does have some great authentic Chinese food.  I still enjoy eating Chinese food here, but at the same time, I miss the tastes from China.

When it comes to food, to taste the best of the best, you must go directly to the source.  This is yet another benefit of traveling the world and expanding your appetite to new foods that you perhaps have never tried!

Ready to taste the difference for yourself? Start Planning Your Trip so EdOdyssey can help get you on your way!

3 Beautiful Realizations From Unexpected Travel Changes

You know that unsettling feeling when you look around and you feel your stomach drop as you realize something doesn’t feel right. You start to look around and you feel out of place and you get frustrated. Your mind races and you get overwhelmed because you come to a realization that your trip isn’t going 100% according to plan.

Now what do you do about it in that moment? At EdOdyssey, we want that you embrace that uncomfortable moment and explore it with us.

As both travelers and educators, we plan out the details of our trips abroad as best as possible, but unexpected changes happen along the way. The weather changes or there’s an expected delay. There’s nothing that anyone can do in those moments except be patient. No one can foresee these moments, but all of us can adjust our mindset to take in these beautiful and teachable instances if we have the right mindset going into our trips.

When the train makes us wait, or the weather slows us down, all we can do is manage our reaction. No traveler wants to leave a country with bad memories and we don’t want anyone on our trips to not leave satisfied either so we need to see the splendor in everything!

Therefore, we want to share three of our beautiful realizations that come from changes.

The Beauty of Cultural Differences

In general, we can have lofty expectations and standards from back home that we unjustly communicate onto other cultures. When we travel, we have an idea that buildings and places will look different but at some point all of us struggle with how aspects of other cultures feel different. For example, at restaurants in Europe, the service tends to be slower and less individualized than in the United States.

All of us feel this slower pace, and we can either feel frustrated or take a moment of introspection to see the bigger picture. We’re all getting more time to spend with friends in an amazing place about to eat some delicious food. The drinks might take a couple more minutes, but take a step back, and ask yourself if you’ll remember that as being the moment that ruined your trip.

In those moments, we have to take a second to understand that our frustration comes from feeling something different and we have to ask why it feels different. At EdOdyssey, we understand these frustrations and these differences and we want you to understand these feelings because ultimately it helps us understand...  

The Beauty of Reflection

When you’re at home, you have your own individual routines and your own structure that gives you a sense of comfort that disappears quickly when traveling. When you travel abroad with us, we do our best to customize the best trip for you and prepare for everything, but even still there might be unexpected changes.

Ultimately, we can’t control long lines and unexpected waits, but we can manage our attitudes and how we roll these changes as individuals and as a group.

In those unexpected moments, we ask that you take a second to reflect on the beauty of the moment. You’re with your friends, you’re trying new foods and seeing unbelievable things. In a few weeks and moments from now, do you think that you’ll remember a little rain?

If I learned anything during my time abroad, I understood how to let go of my expectations and embrace mistakes and confusion.

During your time with us, we plan our trips as air tight as possible but sometimes life happens and reality gets in the way. There’s an unexpected delay or a last second modification. Take a second, look around, and embrace the moment.

Talk with your classmates and friends about what you’ve done or what you’re about to do!

The Beauty of Help

We’ve all had these incredible moments in our lives when we find ourselves lost and we don’t know what to do. We’re with a group one second, we look away or get distracted, and then we can’t find them.

As little kids, teenagers or grown adults, we’ve all lost track of our friends and family at some point. As humans, we share this truth and we have to stay optimistic and understand that people will be there to help you.

We are there to help and we hope that you’ll come along and join the ride with us so we can share the beautiful experience of traveling abroad together!