Where better to learn a language than from the land that cultivated it? No teacher or textbook can translate the subtleties or bring to life the vibrancy of linguistics like native speakers can. And it’s no secret that immersion is the most effective and enduring way to wrap your mind around context and conversational nuances in addition to pronunciation and sentence structure. This is where the best foreign language courses come in!
Foreign language study abroad will expand your worldview!
Given the immense value of fluency in another language on a personal level (but especially in the professional realm), the challenge lies more in determining how to successfully intertwine education with first-hand experience. The best foreign language courses made the top of the list by offering students the means to achieve just that.
These institutions have been rated by attendees themselves, and the reviews are glowing, fellow traveler.
Keep Reading: 10 Best Foreign Languages to Learn Abroad
8 best foreign language courses this year
Editor’s note: This information on language study abroad programs was accurate at the time of publishing. Please refer to each individual program for current data.
1. Faculty-Led Customized Study in Belize Programs — 9.5
Toucan Education Programs, or “TEP”, prides itself on providing tailored experiences to students on (predominately) faculty-led trips. The inquiry process is centered on scaling a program that is both immersive and flexible, sensitive to factors such as preferred length of time, accommodation needs (with homestays as an option!), financial constraints, and above all else — offering excursions that are service-oriented, not just surface level overviews of Belize’s culture. Internships are as rewarding as they are rigorous, which programs developed to be beneficial to your career path as well as an incredible introduction to Central America.
- Location? Belize
- Language? Spanish
- Read Toucan Education Programs reviews
2. AIFS Study Abroad in Barcelona, UAB: Semester or Year — 9.2
Barcelona’s brilliance is showcased in every facet of AIFS’ foreign language study abroad program. Emphasizing the highlights (Park Güell, flamenco, Futbol Club Barcelona, renowned restaurants) is balanced with strong encouragement to engage beyond the major attractions and volunteer within the community. Spanish speakers of all levels are welcome and activities are planned with making local connections in mind, in addition to ones that bloom during lectures. The AIFS-Barcelona staff has received tremendous praise, with hundreds of students wishing they could extend their experience!
- Location? Barcelona
- Language? Spanish
- Read AIFS reviews
3. IES Abroad Nantes – French Language Immersion & Area Studies — 9.55
Students have spent half a century falling in love with one of the best French foreign language courses in the world. IES Abroad delivers an immersion experience that’s a formidable alternative to residing in the capital, with the utter beauty and warmth of the French countryside on full display. Complete with a charming, walkable city, a host family eager to provide the most authentic living experience, and an institute that functions as a seamless transition into studying as a French citizen, this program is unmatched in caliber. The Institute for the International Education of Students seeks to convey the current benefits of the French language and culture in addition to imparting full written and verbal communication abilities.
- Location? Nantes, France
- Language? French
- Read IES Abroad reviews
4. CIEE Global Institute Berlin, Germany Open Campus — 9.25
The cosmopolitan city of Berlin, an eclectic blend of modern advancement and a window into Germany’s rich culture and roots, serves foreign language students with a uniquely customizable opportunity to learn the language and luxuriate in all Deutschland has to offer. Art, politics, entrepreneurism, and festivals bookend courses that span three to six weeks depending on your degree requirements. The open campus format favored by CIEE has proved especially popular, as Berlin soon becomes a home away from home. The German language is notably difficult to master, a skill that becomes intrinsically attainable through the CIEE approach.
- Location? Berlin
- Language? German
- Read CIEE reviews
5. Siena Italian Studies — 9.49
The allure and antiquity that define Italy are woven into a foreign language study abroad curriculum that promotes thorough exposure to the romance language in addition to the cultural renaissance. The premise of truly “living like a local” sets Siena Italian Studies apart from similar initiatives as students become fully engulfed in classes, service activities, and expeditions conducted in Italian. Summer and full-semester offerings ensure the program is accessible to multiple college tracks, and proves an unforgettable absorption into the Bel paese.
- Location? Siena, Italy
- Language? Italian
- Read Siena Italian Studies reviews
6. AUB Summer Arabic Programs — 8.96
Famed for attracting prestigious lecturers and academics alike, the American University of Beirut’s reputation for exceptional and intensive programs of study is well-deserved. Students are able to pursue full semester or short-term courses, particularly on the Arabic Language track, while taking core lessons in English. The vast majority of participants praise a shift in perspective in addition to increased proficiency in Arabic, as the Lebanese culture is rich in opinion and historical convergence as well as diversity. The university is staunchly committed in living its creed of producing academics who are well-rounded, foster inclusion, and embody leadership capabilities in addition to articulacy in Arabic.
- Location? Beirut, Lebanon
- Language? Arabic
- Read American University of Beirut reviews
7. Learn Japanese in Tokyo, Japan! — 9.52
The best foreign language courses are structured in the same manner as KCP — immersive, intensive, and indescribably valuable. Students rave about the personability and professionalism of the course instructors, who are dedicated to refining command and reinforcing practice of the Japanese language through real life example. The lessons are conducted entirely in Japanese, in the heart of the country’s electric capital city, where technology, tradition, and towering architecture reign every aspect of daily life. Whether Tokyo is home for a month or a full academic year, there is no better place to gain insight into life as a Japanese speaker; the testimonials are telling, with some students relocating permanently after completing the module!
- Location? Tokyo, Japan
- Language? Japanese
- Read reviews on the KCP progra
8. USAC BRAZIL: Florianópolis-Global Economy — 9.61
Florianópolis is synonymous with sand, surf, seafood, and a booming nightlife scene — a truly spectacular backdrop to a respected foreign language study abroad program. Students who participate in the full-semester program take courses alongside Brazilian peers and are given full exposure to local colloquialisms throughout their field study or internship. Plenty of travel opportunities are available to visit the capital, rainforest, and festivals while practicing Portuguese around the country. The United Studies Abroad Consortium organization built the program to meet extensive foreign language requirements in a condensed-yet-comprehensive fashion, yielding the best of Brazilian economy and culture as it creates fluency in the national language amongst international students.
- Location? Brazil
- Language? Portugese
- Read USAC reviews
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The Rosetta Stone has nothing on language study abroad
The best foreign language courses will take you from beginner to fluent in no time!
The passion and dedication of the organizations who designed these top eight foreign language programs abroad is beyond admirable. Even more impressive is the quality of instructors, a unanimous assessment by the undergraduates who studied alongside them.
A love of one’s own native speech is as essential as a proclivity for teaching others how to eloquently communicate in that vernacular; a characteristic that can only be understood by living in a foreign country for a spell and learning at a personalized level.
If you’ve ever wanted or wished to learn a language abroad, this is your moment. The research and reviews are laid out for you! These courses are built and vitalized on merging academic excellence with an ardent sense of adventure, and we’ve sourced out the ones that go furthest to ensure learning a foreign language is truly the education of a lifetime.
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