How to become an expert in a country and fluent in their language
Jan 09, 2024A post every expat should read:
How to become an expert in a specific country.
And fluent in their language at the same time.
There are 3 types of knowledge you need.
1. Practical knowledge: Everything you need to know to function in your daily life and socialise in the new country.
2. Popular culture: Really important to really know how people in the country really think.
3. Strategic knowledge: Understanding the country's history, politics and economics.
Let's start with practical knowledge.
All the small things from daily life.
From logistics and payments to social etiquette.
How to interact with people.
The best way to learn this is by experience.
Going out, meeting locals and talking to them.
Again, there's nothing in the air in the country that will make you learn the language or the culture.
Living in an expat bubble or staying home and spending all your time online won't help you.
You need to meet locals and have conversations with them.
Alternatively, if you haven't moved there yet you can binge watch or listen to podcasts or Youtube channels that talk about daily life in that specific country.
That will prepare you for the real thing.
Make sure you work on your Language Islands to get better at conversations.
Next there's popular culture.
Honestly I am not really interested in mainstream popular culture.
I don't watch or listen to what's trendy. I don't care.
But when it comes to learning about a new country, it's very useful.
As Churchill said, there's no public opinion, there's only published opinion.
Read the local news, even if it's only the headlines.
Check the country's Twitter regularly.
You'll learn what people think and care about and how they talk about it.
Get your daily dose in text, audio or video form.
Trust me, it'll be worth it long term.
Finally we've got my favourite part: A strategic view.
Now some of you might find this part boring.
But it's extremely important if you truly want to understand a society.
This is a 10,000 foot view of the country.
Why am I talking in freedom units? I'm not even American!
Anyway this is important.
And it's not complicated: You simply have to read a lot.
About the country's history, economy and politics (both internal and international).
I recommend books and specialised press.
For example, I used to read the Handelsblatt daily when I worked in the Spanish Embassy in Germany or the Ziarul Financiar in Romania.
Is this super useful in your everyday life? Maybe not.
However it will help you long term, with investments, avoiding nasty surprises, etc.
And getting massive input about these topics will definitely make you not only a better speaker of the language but also a much more interesting one.
Will definitely impress the in-laws.
I recommend getting a balanced diet of all 3 types of input.
Personally I get a lot more of 1 and 3 than 2.
I am a very outgoing and social guy.
I love reading about history, economy and politics.
And I don't enjoy mainstream media and popular culture.
But I make sure I at least get some exposure when I am learning a new language because it's very helpful in conversation.
I hope you find this useful in your future adventures.
Anything you disagree with?
Let me know in the comments.
Is there a language you'd like to learn?
You too can learn a language in a few months. You can even become a polyglot if you want to. Get in touch for one-on-one coaching.
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