Expats and language learning

There are three types of expats when it comes to language learning. I have been an expat for years in Poland, as well as traveling quite a bit. My observation is based on real people regarding expats and language learning. How fast expats learn a language is connected to their level of self confidence and aggressiveness in immersing themselves. However, also the amount of time they need to secure an income in their new country.

Three types of expats language learners

1. Those who do not care about income at first and simply aggressively have a ‘take no prisoners’ or ‘fight to the last man’ attitude towards learning their target language. They play to win. All or nothing. They make this a priority and do not care how stupid they sound or feel. Further they do not engage in thinking such as ‘I am not smart enough’. They do not allow themselves to get shackled by the bonds of excessive thought. They just cram and learn and they treat it more like fun. Usually I see these language learners do it on their own rather than in schools. They talk with mostly or only people in their target language. They generally have a 100% success rate regardless of their intelligence.

2. Those who are smart and ambiguous but because of economics or they are on some other mission in their expat country, therefore, they can not focus on learning the language seriously. My friends who are in this group start to learn the language seriously after about 4 years. They say, ‘I think its about time’. They have had many stop and go language attempts but after about 4 years they begin to learn. These guys have about 50% success rate.

3. Those who lake self confidence. They tell themselves they do not have the gift of language. They are often the smartest of all but for some reason think they are not great with languages. They compare themselves to a person someone knew who picked up Chinese, Russian and Arabic in three months, without studying. Let me tell you I have taught languages for years and I have never meet a true prodigy, only people that work. This last group has a 100% failure rate as they do not feel good about immersing themselves in their target language. Even after taking classes they simply say they can not learn a language. The truth is nobody can teach you a language. You have to do it yourself with a I am going to win attitude.

With language learning, attitude determines altitude.

Tags: attitude and language learning, expats and language learning, learn a language