- Learning
Learn as much as you can before leaving home. If
you are a beginner, get hold of a school book and
learn something about the basics. Try to memorize
some basic sentences: What’s your name? Where
do you live? etc. The more you know, the easier
it will be to make your first contacts.
- Photographs
You will be coming into contact with people you
do not know. What personal things could you show
them? Take some photographs with you. This gives
you something to talk about in the school or in
the family. And your photographs are definitely
more interesting than the pictures in the school
book and you have a specific relationship to them.
- Lessons
You want to learn to speak? What about? In the course
of the lessons, you will certainly have the opportunity
of speaking about “your” topics. If
not, it is up to you to propose them. Think about
this when you are still at home and take material
with you which might be helpful: Newspaper articles,
statistics, a report etc. And if you have a good
dictionary, do not forget to take it with you!
- Family
You would like to be treated as a guest. If a family
is offering you accommodation, bring a small present
for the family with you - give the children a small
picture book in English, give your hosts something
particular from the region you come from or a book
with photographs from your home town. This will
also provide you with your first topics for conversation.
- Teachers Teachers are humans, too. You can make them very
happy with a small sign of recognition at the end
of the course. If you take this into consideration
before you leave home, you could bring him/her some
chocolates or a bottle of local liqueur.
English teachers love ties. How do we know that?
- Others
Two to four weeks go by in no time
at all. Start planning in advance: What do you want
to do? What do you want to see? What excursions
do want to go on? But remain flexible and be prepared
to change your plans! And do not forget to take
some travel guides with you - when you are at your
place of destination, it is often difficult to find
exactly what you need.
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