You’ve got your ticket, your internship, your bag.
Next step: learn more than just ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ in the local language.
The good news is that you don’t need to be bilingual to get by, but it’s in your best interest to start learning before you leave… and to keep learning once you’re there.

1. Before you leave: lay the groundwork (without stressing yourself out)

Before you leave, the goal is not perfection, but to have a linguistic survival kit so you can understand, ask questions, and not panic at the supermarket.

Prioritise useful vocabulary
Focus on what you’ll really need: introducing yourself, asking for directions, ordering food, asking a simple question, saying ‘I don’t understand’.
Make short lists of words related to your future daily life: transport, accommodation, office, food, timetables.

Survival phrases to know by heart
Learn about twenty phrases that you can use without thinking:

‘I’m doing an internship here for X months.’

‘Can you repeat that more slowly?’

‘Where is…?’
The idea is to have a few reflex phrases that will get you through the first few weeks.

Mini daily routine
It’s better to do 10 minutes every day than 2 hours once a month.
For example, you could:

revise with an app on the bus,

write down 5 new words every day,

set yourself a mini goal: ‘today, I’m going to learn everything about the café/underground/office’.

2. Apps, series and podcasts: turn your sofa into a classroom

No need for a thick textbook to get started: your screens can become your teachers.

Learning apps
Use an app for the basics (alphabet, simple sentences, survival conjugations).
Most importantly: set reminders, stick to one series, and don’t try to do everything perfectly. The idea is to unlock the language.

Series, films and YouTube
Watch videos in the target language with subtitles (first in your own language, then in the target language when you feel more comfortable).
Choose simple content: vlogs, light-hearted series, videos for beginners, not a highly technical thriller.

Podcasts and music
Play a very simple podcast in the background while you cook or tidy up, just to get your ear used to the rhythm and sounds.
With music, look up the lyrics, pick out a few words, try to sing along (even if you’re out of tune, it counts).

3. Prepare for the world of work (not just for ordering coffee)

You’re not just coming to travel: you’re coming to work in another language.

Professional vocabulary for your field
Make a list of keywords related to your job or internship (meeting, email, report, client, team, etc.).
Learn a few standard phrases that you’ll use at the office:

‘May I ask you a question about this project?’

‘Can you explain to me how you usually do this?’

‘I’ll send you the document by email.’

Simulate situations
Practise out loud as if you were already at the office: introduce yourself, talk about your studies, explain what you can do.
You can even record yourself to get used to hearing yourself speak in the language and identify any areas for improvement.

Prepare for your first few days
Write down a short presentation that you can use: who you are, where you come from, what you do as an intern.
You can use this text when talking to your colleagues, your mentor, or even your landlord.

4. Once you’re there: boost your level on a daily basis (without ‘official’ lessons)

From the moment you arrive, every day becomes a giant language lesson.

Dare to speak, even if you make mistakes
You’re bound to make mistakes… and that’s how you progress.
Force yourself to switch to the local language as soon as possible: at the café, at the supermarket, at the office. Even if the sentence is awkward, give it a try.

Professional rituals in the local language
At work, you can:

take your meeting notes in the language,

try to write your first simple emails,

ask your tutor to correct your important formulations.
The more you use it in the real context of your internship, the more you will consolidate your vocabulary.

Small language tasks every day
For example:

Day 1: order your coffee in the language.

Day 2: ask for directions.

Day 3: strike up a mini conversation with a colleague (‘how was your weekend?’, ‘how was your commute?’).
You progress through micro-victories, not ‘grand grammar theory’.

5. Create a ‘local bubble’: friends, flatmates and habits

You will learn the language much faster if you don’t spend all your evenings with other English speakers.

Seek out local contact
Take part in student events, language meetups, activities in your city, sports or dance classes.
The goal: to force yourself to hear and use the language in contexts other than the office.

Shared accommodation and daily life
If possible, choose to share accommodation with people who speak the language of the country.
Discussions in the kitchen, jokes, and everyday hassles are some of the best ‘language lessons’ you can have.

Limit your use of your native language
Keep some time for French (to relax), but avoid being in a French-speaking bubble 24/7, otherwise your progress will slow down considerably.

6. Keep track of your progress (and stay motivated)

There will be days when you feel like you’re stagnating, even though you’re making progress.

Living vocabulary notebook
Write down expressions you often hear at the office or on the street, with examples.
Reread them regularly and try to use them in real conversations.

A quick weekly review
Ask yourself these questions:

What do I understand better than I did a week ago?

What situations still stress me out?

What word/phrase did I manage to use for the first time?
This allows you to see in black and white that you are making progress, even if you don’t feel fluent yet.

Set yourself a challenge
This could be watching an entire film without subtitles, making a phone call on your own, or participating in a meeting without switching to English.
Each challenge you complete will give you a big confidence boost for the future.

In short, you don’t need to wait until you’re ‘ready’ to start: you begin before, you continue during, and your language skills progress at the same pace as your internship.
What matters most is not being perfect, but being consistent, curious, and daring to open your mouth, even when the sentence isn’t perfect.