7 Ways to Study a Language Abroad Without Going Broke

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Archive note: Benny introduced this guest post in August 2013. The travel plans and prices below describe that time; programme terms, visas, fees and local costs can change, so check the current rules before committing.

Benny was between language missions when he published it.

The advice is from Susan Shain, whose former Travel Junkette site now redirects to her current site. Susan specialised in seasonal jobs that helped fund her travels. Over to you, Susan!

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You'd love to study French at the Sorbonne. Or maybe Chinese at a language institute in Shanghai. Time abroad can create plenty of chances to use the language you're learning, provided you build those chances into your days.

But there's just one small problem: traveling abroad to study a language costs a lot of money. Or at least, that's what most people think.

How can you study a language abroad if you can't afford to house and feed yourself, let alone pay for language classes? It seems impossible, doesn't it?

It isn't impossible. It takes planning, a realistic emergency fund and a willingness to work. You still need to budget for transport, insurance, visas and unexpected costs, but there are several ways to reduce accommodation or living expenses.

Here are seven ways to study a language abroad without going broke:

A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away with a native speaker for at least 15 minutes with the “Fluent in 3 Months” method. All it takes is 90 days. Tap this link to find out more.

1. Volunteer

A well-run volunteer placement can support useful local work and create chances to use your target language. Research who designed the project, whether local staff lead it, what skills are actually needed and where the fee goes. Some programmes include free or discounted accommodation; others charge substantial fees.

I recently put this into practice during three months volunteering in Nicaragua. Getting better at Spanish and volunteering abroad were both on my life list, so I decided to look for volunteer opportunities in Latin America. I ended up working with a fabulous organization in Nicaragua called La Esperanza Granada. I spent my time at a public elementary school where the other volunteers were the only people who spoke English.

Not only was this an incredibly fun and rewarding experience, but it gave me regular reasons to use my Spanish. Teaching third-grade maths and dealing with the bustle of a classroom pushed me to communicate clearly.

2. CouchSurf

Couchsurfing is an online community through which hosts and travellers can arrange stays and meet-ups. It is built around cultural exchange, but its current services and fees should be checked on the platform before a trip.

I've used CouchSurfing when traveling in expensive countries like Norway and Japan, and I've had nothing but positive experiences. If I'm traveling alone, I only stay with women, and when I'm hosting, I only host women or couples.

Couchsurfing can create opportunities to meet locals who speak your target language, but a stay is not a guaranteed free lesson. Agree on expectations, respect a host's time and language preferences, read references carefully, keep your own transport and emergency plan, and use the platform's current safety guidance.

TIP: A longer stay in one city can cost less than moving around and gives relationships time to develop. Do not assume that changing hosts every few nights will be available or safe; arrange accommodation you can afford even if a host cancels.

Here are Benny's thoughts on using Couchsurfing to work on your languages.

3. Teach English

For some qualified English speakers, teaching abroad can cover living costs while providing a base in the country. Contracts, eligibility, pay, flights, housing and leave vary by programme and employer, so compare the written terms rather than relying on a headline package.

I taught English through the EPIK program in South Korea for a full year. I hate to admit to a community of polyglots that I didn't make much progress in learning Korean — but the point is, I could've if I’d wanted to.

If you teach in a country whose language you want to learn, the job can fund your stay. But hearing the language around you is not the same as studying it: make time for lessons, practise outside work and build relationships without treating local people as unpaid tutors.

Teaching opportunities exist in several regions, but visa rules, qualifications, job quality, cost of living and pay vary widely across countries and employers. Check official immigration guidance and speak privately with current or former teachers before accepting a contract.

If Asia or the Middle East aren't your style, you’ll have to search a little harder, and you won’t earn as much money, but there are still ways to do it. For example, I know people who’ve worked as teaching assistants in France or Spain.

Benny has also written about his experience teaching English abroad.

4. WWOOF

WWOOF connects visitors with organic farmers for an educational and cultural exchange. Hours, tasks, food, accommodation, membership and visa requirements vary by host and national organisation, so agree on them before travelling.

Tasks can range from weeding to harvesting or caring for animals. Membership is organised through national or regional WWOOF groups, and fees vary. Budget for travel, insurance, days off and alternative accommodation as well as membership.

By working on the farm with your hosts, you’ll be able to practice your target language daily. You’ll have afternoons and days off to explore the surrounding areas, when you’ll also be able to chat it up. And the best part? The only thing you’ll be spending is a bit of elbow grease.

TIP: Choose a farm with hosts who speak only your target language. If they speak your native language also, you'll probably get lazy and be tempted to speak in it after a hard day's work. If your hosts don’t speak anything else, that won’t be a possibility!

5. Au Pair

Like kids? Maybe you should consider working as an au pair abroad. Though your employers may want you to speak your native language to your charges, that doesn't mean you won't hear your target language. The family will likely speak it amongst each other, and you'll be able to speak it when you leave the house.

The main benefit of working as an au pair is living with a family in a country where your target language is spoken while receiving room, board and pocket money under the agreed arrangement. Eligibility, hours, safeguarding duties, visas and minimum pay differ by country, so use official rules and a written agreement. Emily also wrote about what adults can learn from the way children approach languages.

I’ve never worked as an au pair, so I don’t have much advice in this category. But luckily, I have cool friends: my friend Ashley wrote a super informative post on how to become an au pair abroad. She’s spent a couple years learning French while working as an au pair outside of Paris.

Benny also had the chance to interview two au-pairs, in Spanish, to ask about their experiences doing this.

6. Housesit

Housesitting allows you to stay in another country for an extended period of time without having to pay for accommodation. Though you’ll be in your own space and thus won’t be directly interacting with locals, you’ll have one of the costliest parts of a trip abroad (accommodation) taken care of. This means that you’ll have extra cash to immerse yourself in your target language by volunteering, taking classes, or just hitting up the local nightlife.

If your lease and local rules allow subletting, your home might also offset part of the trip. I've never had a housesitting gig, but TrustedHousesitters and MindMyHouse are two established platforms to research. Check their current fees, verification, insurance and cancellation terms rather than treating a listing as guaranteed accommodation.

7. Compare homestay and language programmes in lower-cost destinations

What if you don’t want to bother with working or volunteering? It is possible to focus solely on language learning; you just might need to reframe your thinking a bit. For example, if you want to learn Spanish: don't travel to Spain, where the cost of living is high. Go to Guatemala instead. That’s what I did.

When I visited Guatemala, I took six hours of one-to-one Spanish classes per day. This came with a homestay, three home-cooked meals per day and plenty of chances to use Spanish. The 2013 package cost US$215 for one week, but that is a historical example, not a current quote.

Because I only had a week, I studied for six hours per day; over a longer stay, four hours would probably have been more manageable. Ask schools for a current written quote covering tuition, accommodation, meals, registration, transfers and cancellation. Then add flights, insurance, visas, local transport and an emergency margin before comparing destinations.

Learning a language abroad does not have to mean an expensive university programme. The right work exchange, job, housesit or homestay can reduce costs, but only if its legal, financial and safety terms stand up to scrutiny. The time abroad still needs deliberate language practice to become a learning plan.

Susan Shain had been working seasonal adventure jobs and travelling the world since 2008 when this article was published. She spoke some Spanish and French. Her former Travel Junkette address now redirects to Susan Shain's current site.