Stepping onto the plane, arriving at your final destination, and unpacking after a day of traveling — everything seems to be going according to plan. Until hunger and thirst hit. You head to the nearest café and find yourself face-to-face with the cashier, ready to order something. You don’t really know the local language of the country you’re studying in, but something tells you they might understand English — after all, it’s a global language, right?

But as soon as you start speaking, the cashier interrupts and asks you something you can’t understand. Turns out, they don’t speak English at all. So what do you do? Ask someone nearby to translate — but what if they don’t speak English either? Pull out your phone — but what if you don’t have Wi-Fi or data?

This small moment represents what a lot of students experience when studying abroad. And for some, it might even be the reason they’re hesitant to take the leap — that fear of the unknown. So, how can you overcome this challenge before and during your time abroad?

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered — here are some tips and tricks to help you master the language barrier while studying abroad:

1. Learn Some Basic Phrases from Your Host Country

You might not realize how much of a difference learning a few simple phrases can make. They don’t have to be full sentences — even greetings or being able to ask how much something costs can go a long way.

The internet has some amazing tools for language learning. If apps and online courses aren’t your thing, look for in-person classes in your area. Just taking 10 to 15 minutes a day is more than enough to prepare for your time abroad — and don’t forget to keep practicing once you arrive!

Assignments + Giunti Odeon = Main Character Energy

2. Participate in Language Sessions Provided by Your Program

One great thing about studying with SAI is all the activities available. When I first arrived in Florence, I was so excited to see everything I could do during just the first few weeks.

As you probably guessed, speaking Italian wasn’t exactly my strong suit. But SAI offered a session called “Survival Italian,” and it was truly life-changing. By the end of the class, I had learned — and actually remembered — how to order in a café and ask for directions in the city.
Sure, my accent wasn’t perfect, but you know what? It got me places.

Pro tip: Take notes during those sessions — they’ll come in handy!

Coffee, croissant, computer – repeat until the assignment submits itself

3. Change the Way You Listen and Watch

After all that studying, why does it sometimes still feel like the words just won’t come out right? That was me — I’d try to say something in Italian and still mess up the pronunciation or get my words jumbled.

That’s when one of the SAI staff members gave me a great piece of advice: Try changing how you do everyday things.
Sounds odd, right? But it worked. I started watching movies in Italian instead of English. At first, I picked movies I already knew by heart and added Italian subtitles. It was tough at the beginning, but it started to make sense. Eventually, I flipped it, watching in Italian with English subtitles.

Before I knew it, I was recognizing words and phrases way more easily.
Another thing I ended up doing — kind of unexpectedly — was listening to Italian music. One day, I stumbled across a playlist of Italy’s top hits, and not only did I find great music, but I also learned more about pronunciation.
Sure, I still have an accent — but it’s gotten way better!

Too pretty to eat…almost

4. Engage in Volunteering

Saved the best for last!
Even after doing all of the above, I still didn’t feel super confident with my Italian. So, I looked for other ways to get more comfortable with the language, and that’s when I found out that SAI offered volunteer opportunities. I was excited to give back to the place that had become my home for the semester. There were a few different options, but I chose to volunteer by teaching students English.
Was I an education major? Nope. Did I have any teaching experience? Absolutely not.
But every time I walked into that classroom, I knew I was doing something meaningful for the students and for myself.
I didn’t understand every word they said, but I could recognize enough to piece things together and respond (not perfectly, but the students understood me).
Even though my time with the students was short, I’m truly grateful for everything I learned from them.

Adapting to a new place where you don’t speak the language can definitely be challenging, but it shouldn’t hold you back. Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and there are so many ways to break through the language barrier.
I hope these tips help you like they helped me. I know it can be uncomfortable stepping outside your comfort zone — and yes, it might feel like a hassle sometimes just to get through the semester. But trust me: everything you do now will benefit you in the long run.
So, remember: feel comfortable being uncomfortable.
Wishing you the best of luck on your study abroad journey — have fun and make as many memories as you can!

Written by: Valeria, Spring 2025 Florence student from University of Tennessee Knoxville!