Anyone who has ever lived abroad knows how difficult it can be to meet people. Meeting people, however, is the key to improving your language skills. This leads to more satisfaction in all areas of your life - especially your success at work. Some of the problems are well known:

• The foreign culture seems so strange.
• People speak too quickly for you to understand everything.
• The pronunciation may be difficult to understand.
• Customs are unfamiliar and you’re not sure how to act.

It is easy to stay in your hotel room or apartment and avoid the problem. Perhaps, watching TV will help… It will, BUT, getting out and speaking with people is the best way to take advantage of the opportunity. There are a few ways to meet people that are sure to help you make friends which will provide lots of personal satisfaction AND improve your language skills.

• Find out what kinds of conversation strangers usually have in the country
• Join a group of people who are interested in a specific hobby.
• If you are even slightly religious - go to church, a mosque, synagogue, zen center…
• Leverage the internet

Have a Conversation with a Stranger

In the United States, people love to talk about location. If you have an uncle or an aunt who lives in Chicago, tell other Americans about your relatives and chances are they will also know somebody who lives in Chicago. Perhaps, they’ve traveled through Chicago. In any case, Americans will probably come up with some connection. If you are in England, talk about the weather. Comment on the rain, or the variability of the climate, and you are sure to get a response.

Join a Club or Hobby Group

Join a group of people who are interested in a specific hobby. If you play tennis, find a tennis club and ask for a game. Are you interested in local history, there’s probably a group which provides tours of local sites of interest. The fact that you are a foreigner means you have different experiences directly relating to the interest group - members will want to hear your perspective. Conversation will soon follow…

Go to Church, Mosque, Synagogue, etc.

If you have a faith, follow it in your new home - even if you’re abroad for only a month. Being in a place of worship that is familiar to you will provide you with comfort. The community will provide plenty of conversation and practice opportunities.

Leverage the Internet

Finally, take advantage of the tool you are using today - the internet. Sites like Meetup.com provide listings of interest groups, meetings, book clubs … anything you may want to join in. Get online, put up a profile, choose your interest area and region and you’ll have more opportunities for meeting people and practicing English than you can possibly imagine.