Picture this: It’s the final week of your study abroad program, and you’re sitting at your farewell dinner reflecting on an incredible semester: the trips, the new friends, the food, and the aperitivos. Someone turns to you and asks, “So, how much of the local language did you end up learning?”
For many students, that question is met with a blank stare and a “Grazie” before realizing they spent months living in another country without ever speaking more than a single word.
It’s completely understandable why this happens. When you arrive in your dream destination with a bucket list a mile long, learning the language usually sits at the bottom of your priorities. Plus, if English is your native language, it’s easy to fall back on it, especially when everyone on social media assures you that “everyone speaks English anyway”.
Yet, by the end of the term, the most common phrase students repeat is: “I wish I had learned more of the local language.”
Picking up just the basics isn’t about becoming fluent, it’s about unlocking a richer, far more authentic experience. As someone who has discussed the topic of learning the language with hundreds of students, I had the opportunity of collecting some of the reasons why learning even a handful of local phrases will transform your semester abroad:
1. Stop Feeling Like a Guest, Start Feeling at Home
Relying strictly on English keeps you in a tourist bubble. Learning simple expressions, like asking “Come va?” (How’s it going?) shifts your position from a temporary tourist to an active participant in your host city. Being able to chat casually with the barista at the café near your apartment can instantly make a foreign city feel like home and keep homesickness at bay.
2. Connect with People You’d Otherwise Never Meet
When you rely solely on English, you only interact with locals who have the opportunity to study English or live abroad. Using the host language breaks down those barriers. It lets you hear unique stories, understand local perspectives, and connect with everyday vendors, shop owners, and residents from all walks of life.
3. Unlock Emotions and Words That Don’t Exist in English
Languages shape how we view the world, and every culture has untranslatable concepts. Picking up the local tongue gives you a whole new palette of expressions, like the Italian “Boh” to convey pure cluelessness, or “Dai” and “Magari” to express hope, impatience, or resignation. Experiencing these untranslatable words adds a rich new dimension to your self-expression.
4. Build Real Confidence Through Daily Wins
Ordering a coffee, asking for directions, or understanding the origin story behind local dishes like tiramisù might sound minor, but those micro-interactions build genuine self-reliance. Overcoming small language barriers shows you how adaptable you truly are, boosting your confidence far beyond the classroom.
5. Expand Your Future Career Horizon
Experiencing life in another language changes how you view your future. Many students who push past the initial language barrier discover a passion for international living. It often sparks ideas about extending their stay, pursuing international careers, or living abroad permanently.
So, how do you start?
You don’t need hours of textbook study to make a difference, that will only feel overwhelming. Focus on functional everyday basics:
- Take advantage of the survival Italian course: learn the versatile, high- use expressions like: “Posso avere…?” (Can I have…?), greetings, “Quanto costa?” (How much does it cost?), and simple thank-yous.
- Implement these expressions in your everyday life: use your daily coffee break, museum trips or market visits as opportunities to try out new vocabulary.
- Embrace making mistakes: remember that fluency isn’t the goal, connection is. Locals genuinely appreciate the effort and I know you won’t believe me, but the mix-up and mistakes you will make will be part of the fun and probably the things you will remember with most joy.
As Voltaire famously wrote, “Knowing many languages means having many keys for one castle.” Don’t leave your keys behind, grab the basics, unlock your host city, and make sure you leave your semester abroad with zero regrets.
..And remember, onsite staff are there to help you and can’t wait to teach you more about the culture and language of your new home!
Written by: Caterina, SAI Programs Milan Senior Program Coordinator
