Trying to learn a second language? If you are – you’ll know that not everything can be learnt in a classroom. Here at Lingoo, we believe that a language exchange holiday can be the best way of fully immersing yourself in a second language. By completing a language homestay you’ll be able to spend time with native language speakers – learning within a natural, holiday environment.
What is a Language Exchange holiday?
A language exchange holiday is when a family or person provides a place to stay for someone looking to learn a language. For example – if you live in Spain but you want to improve your English you could complete a language exchange with an individual or family in England or another part of the UK.
A language exchange or language homestay holiday is the modern approach to learning a language like English, French, Spanish, German or Italian. The benefits of this type of trip or holiday are that you get to spend time with native speakers, learning skills in everyday life. Learning in a classroom can be beneficial for the basics or for grammar – but nothing compares to learning to speak a language in a natural setting.
Here at Lingoo we provide unique platform for people to meet and arrange a language exchange holiday. We differ from other agencies because Lingoo homestay hosts and holiday seekers can (choose each other – unlike going through an agency) meet and speak before they arrange or book a holiday. With a Lingoo membership you’ll be able to connect with families and individuals around the world. Each of our members (Host families, Teachers, Language exchanges or Homestay guests) has a profile which details what they offer, including images and comments from previous experiences. When you’re ready – you can speak and chat to other members, finding the perfect option for your needs.
To help share what Lingoo do we wanted to share an experience from a real Lingoo member. Lucy has completed many Lingoo language exchanges in Geneva, Paris, Lyon and Salamanca to name just a few and wanted to share her experiences.
At 14 Lucy embarked on her first Lingoo language exchange to Geneva. Little would she know this trip would have a huge influence on both her language learning and the choices she has made later in life. Read Lucy’s testimonial below…
Lucy’s Lingoo Experience
When I stepped, squinting, off the plane into on a hot, clear day in Geneva for my first ever Lingoo exchange - I was a nervous and uncertain 14 year old. I had no idea then that Lingoo would be such a significant part of growing up for me, allowing me to travel around Europe cheaply and safely, meet my best friend, and even inspire me to study languages at university and become a part time English teacher.
Meeting that first family for the first time in the airport, and driving back to their home up the winding alpine roads, I understood about five percent of that first conversation, and my French felt stuck like wet sand in the back of my throat. Their two daughters, Alba and Thea, laughed and joked about French slang, squashed in with me in the backseat, and, by the end of the week we were all screeching and giggling in the car together, yelling along to French rap music with me muddling loudly past the parts I didn’t get. Not only had I had fun, I understood so much more French and wasn’t shy about speaking at all. Since then, Alba and I have visited each other about ten times, and in the sixth form I did work experience in Geneva, arranged by my Lingoo partner’s family.
Living with someone, and sharing the experience of being away from your family with each other can create such an amazing friendship, with someone you would have never even had the opportunity to meet if you had spent your summer slouched on the sofa at home. The Lingoo experience enables you to meet new people, see new places, learn a new language-you are totally immersed in someone else’s culture and way of life, and you let them show it to you. Because of this, things as simple as the weekly trips to the supermarket, or a cinema trip on Friday night, become exciting adventures, or stories to tell when you’re home.
Once I realised this, I became addicted to Lingoo and since that first trip I have travelled to Reims, Paris, Lyon, Barco de Avila and Salamanca as part of language exchanges. I have walked through the grapevines and old, traditional style buildings in the champagne region, lazed by the river and drunk sangria outside a castle in a small Spanish village, hiked to reach the beautiful glacial lake of Laguna del Barco with my new friends, yelling out Spanish songs and sayings along the way, and walked through the Gorges du Fier in the Alps. All of these experiences I would have never had, if I hadn’t been staying with the amazing people who showed them to me.
Lucy Mustard, Lingoo Member
If you’re inspired by Lucy’s testimonial become a Lingoo member. If you want to learn more about how we work and how you can become a host or holiday maker – speak to our team contact us or visit our Facebook and Twitter profiles.
