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caco00 · Joined: 13 Jul 2010 Posts: 5

Hello everyone

I have travelled quite a lot and have taught English in my home country (Argentina) but never really LIVED for a long period of time in a country where I could not speak the local language.

I am getting my CELTA and planning to go abroad (Middle East, Asia) to TESL, but my idea of having a good experience is not living only among a small expat group or behaving as a tourist....

My question is:
How have you managed to inmerse yourself in the local life, in regards to the local language barrier??

Thanks in advance!

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:41 am Post subject:

How hard it is to immerse yourself depends a LOT on where you're going, and also where you're from and who you are. In my last two countries before this one (Ecuador and Spain) I was blessed to have a pretty authentic experience- the friends I miss most from both of these places are a delightful mix of locals, internationals, and...folks who don't fall easily into any one category.

It should be mentioned, though- I spoke decent Spanish when I moved to Spain, and a lot better than decent by the time I left. If I hadn't, integration would have been slowed considerably.

I'm now in Korea, and am finding it slower. (And the language is a bit of a bugger. But I'm stubborn.) It's the not the destination, though, it's the journey. Exploring a culture this foreign while learning a language this different is a treat in itself.

But while you're on the journey...why not share it with folks who are having the same journey? I always feel it's a little odd when people go consider going overseas (where they will be an expat) and say they don't want to hang out with expats.

The other foreigners in your destination place will often be the people you have the most in common with. THey know what it's like to be far from home. (The locals don't- most have never left.) THey know what's frustrating about the local culture. (The locals don't- to them it's all "normal.") They know the best places to study the language. (Locals, why would they?) They know... a lot of what you're going to want to know, if they've been there longer.

I know about "a certain kind of expat" who has been in X country for X years, doesn't speak the language or know anything about the local culture...in my experience, these people are rare. And for every one I've met, I've met many who were educational to know, even if they made different integration decisions than I did.

Best
Justin

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Immersion in a foreign culture depends on how much of your own L1 they accept and how much of the local language you can get by without. There are places in Japan that have enough English signs and such that people live here for years without learning much Japanese at all.

Want to immerse in a culture? Join a gym, visit a community center, chat up any local you can (if you can, that is!) and start making connections, provide culture lessons of your own, date locals, etc. Fresh off the boat will be hard in the early going, of course.

caco00 · Joined: 13 Jul 2010 Posts: 5

Thanks for the answers...
It's not that I don't want to hang out with expats...I don't want to do that EXCLUSIVELY!

I'm just weighing out some considerations...If I'll be living in Turkey for a year, but will only be really interacting in Turkish after 8 months learning the local language, than I have to consider another destination or a longer period!

Thanks again

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I haven't read the whole thread, so maybe this point's already been made - but keep in mind that lots of locals will be able to socialise in English Smile

It often takes a bit more time to make friends among locals - they have jobs and lives and friends established, after all. Most expat teacher's first social network is with (mostly) other expats. But the local language shouldn't be an impenetrable barrier to socialising with locals!

In a really small town, perhaps, but any mid-to-large city, you should have little trouble finding locals happy to hang out in English.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Where in the Middle East are you thinking about going? If you are considering the Gulf, the potential to mix with the locals is more limited than anywhere else I've lived (Europe, Asia, South America). Even more so if you are a woman and don't want your social circle to consist solely of women. Expats hang out with expats here--sure, with some exceptions, but you won't have tons of local friends.

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