Studying abroad in non-English speaking countries, how to 'survive'?

Students at Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, a leading university in Germany.

PHOTO: LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITÄT MÜNCHEN

A recent report, "Overview of English-taught programmes in Europe," conducted by the British Council in collaboration with Studyportals, shows that an increasing number of non-English speaking countries are offering programmes taught in English, including Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, with the total number of programmes reaching thousands. This trend contributes to attracting Vietnamese students, with over 5,800 in Germany, over 5,200 in France, and over 1,200 in the Netherlands...

You should be proficient in the local language.

Even though the programs are taught in English, many international students believe the biggest barrier remains the language. Nguyen Son, a student in Germany, sees knowing German as almost mandatory regardless of the language of instruction. This is because, even if you understand and speak English, native speakers still communicate in German, and even then, their speech can be difficult to understand.

The only way to "survive" and integrate into the community in this situation, according to Son, is to learn the local language on your own. Agreeing, Hoang Yen, a student at the University of Bonn (Germany), said that although many people advise that a B1 level German certificate is sufficient, in reality, students should aim for a B2 level to be able to understand and communicate effectively. "But no matter how well I studied, I still experienced language shock when I first arrived in Germany," Yen confessed.

Sharing a similar situation with Son and Yen, Huu Tri, a third-year student at ESADE Business School (Spain), said that because he only knows English, he faces many difficulties in Spain, a country where "very few people speak English." That's why he constantly encounters problems in his daily life, from shopping at the supermarket to handling administrative procedures. Similarly, Dang Thao An, a student studying in Taiwan, also faces difficulties in carrying out daily activities, despite having a Chinese language certificate after six months of study.

According to An, networking is one of the top factors that helps international students improve their foreign language skills. For example, while in Taiwan, she often spoke English because her friends were from diverse ethnic backgrounds, thus improving her language proficiency. A year and a half later, she transferred to the US and, due to her friendships with Chinese and Taiwanese people, her Chinese language skills improved significantly, "not struggling as much as before."

Vietnamese students listened to shared experiences from former students who had graduated in France at an event held in July 2023.

An open culture, but one that requires caution.

According to Vietnamese students studying abroad, if you choose Europe as your destination, you need to learn about the diversity of ethnicities, religions, and beliefs in the countries, and adjust your lifestyle accordingly, instead of just focusing on studying. "For example, my roommate is Muslim, so she never eats or touches food made from pork. Therefore, we have to use completely separate cooking utensils," Nguyen Son recounted.

Meanwhile, Huu Tri observed that Spanish people are quite cheerful, enthusiastic, and enjoy interacting with strangers. However, understanding and becoming close to them takes more time and effort than in Vietnam, as it requires careful observation, listening, and acceptance of differences. "Learning about and getting acquainted with their lifestyle and culture will make it easier to integrate," Tri affirmed.

Tri also lamented that he once had very close friends, but those friendships later fell apart due to arguments stemming from differences in thinking. "There were actions I thought were acceptable and reasonable in a close relationship. However, in their culture, they considered them inappropriate," Tri confided.

Hoang Yen believes that when studying abroad in a city, one should get to know the people there. Yen feels that people in her area are quite friendly, greeting and smiling at everyone they meet, but people in larger cities "seem a bit colder." "The personality of Germans also varies by region, perhaps because they come to large cities for work, so they are busy and don't have much time for small talk," the student stated.

What is life like in Australia?

Australia is currently one of the most attractive destinations for Vietnamese international students. Nguyen Cat An, who currently works in Melbourne, Australia, assesses the learning and working environment there as multicultural and easy to integrate into. However, after working for a while, An finds it difficult to develop deep relationships with colleagues because she doesn't fully understand their culture from a young age. "Sometimes I don't find their jokes funny, or they don't understand my jokes," An said.

In general, An advises students to determine whether they are suited to the pace of life in their destination country before studying abroad. For example, Australia doesn't have a vibrant nightlife. In the evenings, except for the city center or entertainment venues, people turn off the lights early, and by 7 PM, the streets are quite deserted and dark, with nothing to do. This might not suit some people.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/du-hoc-cac-nuoc-khong-noi-tieng-anh-lam-sao-de-song-sot-185240930183459671.htm