27 Appendix A: Strategies to Prepare for The IUHPFL Experience
New experiences and unfamiliar situations happen every day during the program. The better prepared participants are, the more confidently they will be able to navigate these experiences. Below are a few suggested strategies to improve proficiency in the target language and help prepare students for some of the cultural challenges that lie ahead.
To improve language proficiency:
- Change the settings on your cell phone and computer so that the display language is your target language.
- Participate in a language club in your school.
- Schedule practice conversations with a native speaker.
- Label items around the house.
- Watch movies and programs in the target language.
- Listen to music in the target language.
- Read books in the target language.
Upon arrival at the program site, students will need to acclimate to new family members and friends, a new city, a new culture, and a new language. We recommend that participants prepare for this significant degree of change by learning as much as they can about their host city and getting out of their comfort zones a little prior to the program.
Some suggestions:
- Research the city/region where you will be spending the summer. YouTube videos can be a terrific resource.
- Try new foods now!
- Go without your cell phone and/or social media for an extended period (3 days to a week—or more!).
- Try an activity that’s new and challenging for you. Examples might include karaoke, wall climbing, a dance class, an escape room, etc.
What other ideas do you have? 😊