Living in an English Speaking Country (2)

English Friends

Your choice of accommodation can affect your progress in perfecting your English. Many people fall into the trap (caer en la trampa) of living with people from their own country. This is very tempting as they speak your language and share (compartir) your cultural values. However, you will be missing out (perderse) on the golden opportunity (una oportunidad de oro) of practicing your language skills with people who normally speak English. One option is having English friends who already have a room or know someone with a spare room (cuarto para las visitas) or flat to rent. Of course our lucky readers with a girlfriend or boyfriend from an English speaking country have the wonderful opportunity to practise English during the day and with some pillow talk (conversación íntima) during the night.

Rented Accommodation

Most of us, however, do not have the advantage of an English speaking boyfriend or girlfriend. Don’t despair (desesperes) – it is not the end of the world! A more common way is looking for rented accommodation. Maybe this is difficult at first as you may have to temporarily stay in cheap bed and breakfasts or youth hostels.(albergues) This gives you time to look for a room or flat to share with English speaking people who have similar interests. Where can you find rented accommodation? Well, the best places have traditionally been advertisements in a local newspaper, library or shop window.(escaparate) Alternatively you can log on (acceder) the following web sites for rented accommodation: www.roomsforlet.co.uk (for the UK), www.prorentusa.com (for USA) and www.rentaustralia.com (for Australia). 
      

 

Socialising and Getting Involved In Society

Apart from work and chatting to your flatmates,(compañeros de piso) there are other opportunities to improve (mejorar) your English. One easy way is taking advantage of the different kinds of media around you. For example, regularly listening to radio programmes at certain times of the day like while you cook your meals or get up in the morning etc, going to the library to read specialist magazines related to your interests, or reading the local newspapers that give valuable information on the activities happening in your neighbourhood.(vecindario) Watching television programmes is another good way to help your English.

In every English speaking country will also be numerous clubs and societies that do activities you like. It is therefore (por lo tanto) a great idea to join a sports club, the amateur dramatics society, the local rambling (excursionismo) club, and so on. Another option worth (que vale la pena) investigating are organisations with links (vinculadas) to Spain. In the UK, this type of society is likely to have the words Anglo-Spanish in its description. These organisations will have English people who are generally interested in your culture, and there will probably be a notice board (tablón de anuncios) with people who are looking for somebody to do a language exchange with. Get in touch (ponerse en contacto) with them, because it a great chance to talk to English speakers, speaking in English for half of the time and in your own language for the other half. Apart from this you can put your own advertisement on the notice board, in a free ads newspaper, a local internet website or the local library. I’m sure by the end of the week you will have received many emails and phone calls from people eager (ansiosos) to meet you.

       

Other people who you could talk to are those with free time. These include people waiting for a bus, walking their dog in the park or having a pint in the local pub. Obviously, it is important to be cautious when meeting strangers (desconocidos) and only choose those who appear to be open and receptive. If you don’t know what to talk about, here are some suggestions:

1. Reasons why you came to the city
2. The weather
3. Something in today’s local newspaper
4. Popular television programmes or personalities
5. Traditions from your country
6. A description of the place where you live at the moment
7. Plans for the future
8. Language you have heard that you don’t understand, such as jargon and slang (argot)

Well, if you decide to live in an English speaking country to perfect your English, even for a short time, good luck! It is time well spent and it will probably be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.