Four Insider Tips for Pursuing a Degree in Your Second Language
A quick Google search for tips on studying in your non-native language is likely to bring up results about merely studying a foreign language. While language learning is, in our opinion, an important and worthy endeavor, pursuing a degree in your second language is an entirely different undertaking.
As American master’s degree students in France, we would like to offer advice about studying in a foreign language. If you want some great tips from people who have experienced the ups and downs of studying in their non-native language, keep reading!
1. A little remise à niveau goes a long way
If you are considering pursuing a degree fully taught in a foreign language, it’s no secret that you will have some shortcomings in your linguistic capabilities when compared to a native speaker. Even advanced speakers will have to contend with these linguistic gaps, but it may not be as hard as it seems to close them.
As master’s degree students in France studying Public Law in Maria‘s case and Logistics in mine, we both needed to get ourselves up to speed on a certain number of topics.
We suggest taking advantage of your university’s library to check out relevant books. For example, I checked out Les défis de la supply chain, a book that helped me gain some key vocabulary and understand the current issues in the field. Maria checked out Méthodes de travail de l’étudiant en droit and Je veux réussir mon droit, both of which allowed her to better understand how to succeed in a French law program.
After simply reading these books in our free time, we were on more equal footing with our native-speaker classmates, able to think critically about our course material, and in a position to participate more actively in our classes.
2. Speak up!
Participating actively in class, especially when you aren’t a native speaker, can be daunting. Between the unfamiliar concepts, the presence of your peers, and the less-than-sensitive French educators, it’s easier just to stay quiet.
That being said, participating in class is a great way to get involved, and the more engaged you are, the better you’re able to retain knowledge and information. Additionally, participating in class will give you a chance to exercise your speaking skills and will demonstrate to your professors that you care about your course work.
3. Make friends with your classmates
Though it isn’t always easy to make new friends, we have found that having a relationship with our peers has helped us out in more ways than one. For this reason, we suggest making a concerted effort from the first day of classes to build connections. Getting acquainted with your classmates will make you feel more comfortable overall in an environment that can otherwise feel foreign.
Though COVID-19 makes in-person meetings more difficult, connecting with your peers via social media and messaging can be just as beneficial. Having friends in your promo is a key factor in your integration into French university life.
4. Needing assistance is normal
Our last tip for studying in your non-native language is to always ask for help when you need it. Help comes in many forms, from finding where a building is located on campus to asking a professor to repeat themselves in class. There is no shame in needing a little help, and we have found that people are generally very willing to aid those who ask.
Maria and I have asked countless times for help from administrators, professors, classmates, and more. It is important to recognize your limitations and to have an action plan to counteract them. Shaking your nerves, swallowing your pride, and asking for assistance when necessary should definitely be a part of your plan for success.
If you have the opportunity to study in your non-native language, realize that you are doing something courageous and difficult! Take these tips and enjoy the experience. If these tips helped you or if you have anything to add to our list, let us know in a comment!
2 Comments
Leslie
Thank you guys for the advice ! I’m currently applying to get my master’s in FLE, and even though the whole thing will be online, I get really scared when I think about studying in my third language 😅
Love to read your posts!
Wishing you the best in your journey,
Les
Jalen & Maria
Thank you for reading! It can feel scary, but with the right tools and habits, it’s possible! We wish you good luck with your application.