6 Tips to Improve English for Moving Abroad

Are you wondering how to improve English for moving abroad? Our experience planning our trip to Canada and learning English through different methods has given us valuable insights.

Language skills are crucial for making your move smoother and building confidence in a new environment.

In this post, I’ll share six practical tips based on my personal journey that can help you enhance your English and prepare for your move abroad.

1. Take Personalized Classes

Personalized classes are a great way to start your English learning journey. Working with a private teacher has several advantages:

• You’ll get full attention, ensuring you don’t fall behind like in a group class.
• The teacher can adapt their methods to your specific needs and pace.
• You’ll build confidence by practicing with the same person and feeling comfortable making mistakes.

I started after finishing university, my landlord was a professional translator and she gave me private lessons, which helped me build a strong foundation. Starting as an adult learner, I realized the importance of having a patient teacher who supported my progress.

If you’re just beginning your journey to improve English for moving abroad, personalized classes are an excellent first step.

2. Take an English Course Abroad

Studying in an English-speaking country is one of the most immersive ways to improve your skills. When I took a three-month course in Canada, the experience accelerated my learning. Being surrounded by the language forced me to use English daily, whether communicating with classmates or my host family.

I attended the International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC) in Toronto, which provided excellent instruction and a supportive environment. This approach not only enhanced my language skills but also gave me cultural insights.

If you’re planning to improve English for moving abroad, consider investing in an overseas course for a more intensive and immersive experience.

3. Take an English Course in Your Country

If traveling abroad isn’t feasible, look for English courses locally. Structured classes can help reinforce grammar and vocabulary while providing a community of learners.

After returning from Canada, I noticed my skills slipping, so I enrolled in courses in Santiago, Chile. Institutions like KOE and Tronwell helped me practice speaking and refine my grammar. These courses were investments in myself and kept me motivated to improve.

For those preparing to improve English for moving abroad, local courses can be a cost-effective way to stay consistent and make progress.

4. Take Online Classes with Native Speakers

Platforms like Italki offer the opportunity to connect with native English speakers for personalized lessons. This was a game-changer for me, as it helped me:

• Gain confidence by speaking with native speakers who corrected my mistakes.
• Improve pronunciation and understanding of natural speech.
• Stay motivated by discussing life in Canada, keeping my dream alive.

Online classes are flexible and affordable, making them a practical option to improve English for moving abroad from the comfort of your home.

Italki is a platform where you can find teachers or tutors, take classes in English or other languages in a pretty varied price range and filter by the tutor’s country of origin if you are interested in speaking with native speakers.

I highly recommend this platform. Besides, you can try different teachers or tutors until you feel confident because you can buy an individual class and if you don’t feel comfortable, look for another one.

I kept having classes until a couple of months in Canada, which helped me a lot.

If you want to know more details about how to improve your conversation skills, make sure you check the post Is Italki Worth It for Newcomers? A Comprehensive Italki Review

5. Surround Yourself with English

These small changes can help you immerse yourself in an English environment, especially if you are still in your home country and looking to improve English for moving abroad.

Do you like watching YouTube videos?

Use that to your advantage. Look for content you enjoy, but in English. Nowadays, you can add subtitles (closed captions), and it doesn’t matter if you can’t understand everything at first. The key is to use that time to practice listening and get used to the flow of the language.

Do you like to binge-watch Netflix?

That’s not a problem—just do it in English! Use English subtitles to help you follow along. Over time, you can try watching without subtitles to challenge your comprehension skills.

Do you spend hours scrolling Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or other platforms?

Turn that time into an opportunity to practice English. Follow social media accounts in English, not necessarily language-learning channels, but ones related to topics you enjoy. For example, I followed accounts about minimalism, veganism, zero waste, and cats. This way, you’re practicing listening and reading while engaging with content you love.

Practical Steps for Everyday Immersion

• Change your phone settings to English: Since most of us spend significant time on our phones, this is a simple way to familiarize yourself with common words and phrases.
• Use apps to learn English: Duolingo is a great option to learn the basics. It’s free, tracks your progress, and allows you to set a daily goal for practice. Even 30 minutes a day can make a big difference over time.

By incorporating these habits into your daily routine, you’ll create a consistent and enjoyable way to improve English for moving abroad. Immersion doesn’t require leaving your home country—it starts with small, intentional actions like these.

6. Additional tips

If it is in your plans to come to work with a working holiday or other, I recommend that you do not worry about English certifications. You do not have to prove that you have an English certificate. What is essential when you are looking for a job is that you can speak in an interview.

Surround yourself with people who have the same goals as you. If possible, meet people who speak other languages, but if you meet people only from your country, try to speak in English too, to practice.

Finally, don’t worry about your accent; as I always say, the only thing your accent shows is that you speak at least two languages ​​and that’s admirable.

I once read from a content creator who asked: How to learn English in 3 months? and the answer was How long did it take you to understand your native language? so don’t expect quick ways to learn English, but please start today; your future self will thank you.

Conclusion

I hope this clarifies that there is no easy way to learn English—you have to practice, practice, and practice. Whichever method you choose, the most important step is to start today. Take action, even if it’s small, and do something to begin your learning journey.
By committing to these steps, you’ll steadily improve English for moving abroad and build the skills and confidence you need to thrive in a new environment. Remember, each small effort adds up, bringing you closer to achieving your goals.

If you want to know more about Italki, feel free to check Is Italki Worth It for Newcomers? A Comprehensive Italki Review