University is a scary and emotional time for everyone. Whether you’re staying at home, or moving away, it’s easy to get swept up in all those emotions and big changes. For those brave souls who choose to study abroad, it can be even more daunting!
Without people around speaking your mother tongue, small things like asking for directions, sorting out bills, registering to a new social club or even speaking to new people can be overwhelming. Fortunately, AI translation tools can help you.
What is AI translation?
AI translation is the use of advanced artificial intelligence to translate words spoken or written, as well as translating the meaning and often sentiment of the message within. This results in far greater accuracy and fewer misunderstandings than traditional machine translation.
Machine translation has been around since the 1950s. Projects were being ran as early as 1954 to translate Russian into English. Due to lack of funding and the slow development of computers, machine translation took a long time to truly hit its stride. Machine translation was only seen in Sci-Fi films or series like the Universal translator in Star Trek.
Over the past two decades, advancements in Neural Machine Translation which looks at translating entire sentences instead of individual words, has helped to take AI translation from a concept into reality.
5 ways AI translation can help you it settle in your new country
Overcome language barriers to increase your confidence
First of all, it is important to understand that feeling scared, emotional, or overwhelmed when going to university is normal – whether you go to Sheffield or Shanghai.
Going to study abroad is an even bigger step. Finding yourself in an unknown city where you don’t really understand how people live, behave, or even what they say is very intimidating. In this case, overcoming language barriers becomes essential.
The more you speak to the locals, the more you will get familiar with their customs and in turn, the more confidence you will gain. It may take some time to adapt and overcome these new challenges. However, you will be able to embrace new opportunities and integrate better, so you can fully enjoy your experience!
Settle in faster
Getting your bearings is probably the most important and scariest thing you’ll have to do when you first land in a new country. A new currency to get used to, cashiers at grocery stores speaking a language you might not fully understand, landlords providing long documents you can’t fully make sense of, the fear of setting up a new bank account, the University commute! It all sounds like one big anxiety-ridden nightmare. But it doesn’t have to be!
- New shopping habits:
People go overseas thinking they can get the same produce from one country to another. Whilst this may be true for many products, especially if you go to the largest supermarkets which may also be in your home country (Carrefour, Aldi, Lidl, Tesco), you may struggle to find some more traditional food (e.g. rillettes, escargots, chorizo oreado, morcilla, pickled onions). You may need to explain what you are looking for to in-store staff.
- Landlords and utility bills:
The first thing to sort out is your flat. With so many students arriving at once, you may find yourself in a race to find and secure the right flat with the balcony, gym or leather sofa you’ve always dreamt of. Flats may be scarce, so you will have to arrange viewings very quickly, negotiate the rent in a split second, and sign the contract on the day.
Contracts are a mine field – so many clauses and potential penalties! It is important to check all the words before signing any contract. Foreign students may even be asked to pay 6 to 12-months rent in advance. It’s extremely important to overcome any language barriers so you don’t get stuck in a contract you don’t understand or want.
- Banking:
To sign a tenancy agreement, you will need a bank account. Some banks may not be keen on offering one to foreign students. If they do, they may not offer their best deals: you know, the ones you can get cash back on utilities or food, free travel or contents insurance, or those they give £100 to open an account with them. Again, communication is key.
- Student offers:
There are also many organisations like Student Beans which offer discounts to students on gym membership, mobile phones, earbuds, clothes, or even nights out!
Create new social circles easily
Now in a new country, it’s time to make new friends and create new memories. In student cities, many associations will offer a variety of activities to encourage socialising between students. The question is: what takes your fancy? Are you more into hiking, fitness, cycling, culture, music, drinks, books, film…?
In those groups, you will be meeting people from dozens of different countries. Some you may not have even heard of. It’s impossible to speak all of these languages. Whilst some may speak the local language, many will feel overwhelmed like you. AI translation can support you at the start of your journey, helping you to book these activities, break the ice, strike the first conversation with a stranger, or share your knowledge so you can all enjoy these hobbies.
The more you socialise, the more you will communicate with other foreigners and locals in the language of the country, and the more you will feel part of the country you’re in. You might even find yourself going on dates! AI translation may make flirting a lot easier and less awkward… Probably.
Get higher grades
Anyone who has been to university knows that studying can be tough. Whilst jotting down notes and listening intently in lectures is good, it only gets you so far – especially if the course isn’t in your mother tongue.
Back at home, you’d be able to rely on your friends if you did not understand something. But in a foreign place, that can be a much more difficult thing to do. Therefore, you will need to speak to other students or do further research to ensure you grasp the right meaning of the lessons and get higher grades.
Experience the local culture to make it your home
Believe it or not, up to 35% of foreign students end up staying in the country they study in afterwards. Braving a new culture and language takes a lot of effort and having to return home afterwards can sometimes feel awkward; especially after a year (or more) of fun, being yourself, and with a potential opportunity for a great career.
Over the time you study, you will have overcome the language barrier and will hopefully feel integrated in your adopted country. This will prove to be a very rewarding experience.
- Open mind
Living in another culture will help you understand how and why other people behave in a certain way. You will then be able to appreciate other people, adapt yourself to other customs, enlarge your circle of friends, and impress your family and friends back home.
- Become a food guru
Food is engrained in all cultures. Therefore, it is essential to try the local food. You don’t have to eat it every day. However, making an effort to try these foods every so often can be a great insight into a country, and you may even discover new flavours and spices you’ve never heard of.
- Try new forms of entertainment
We all love music. Knowing only one language, however, severely limits your enjoyment of it. The beats and bass of foreign songs can be jammed along to, but the lyrical meaning is lost. Learning a new language lets you experience new and exciting music properly. It can also help you find out what’s going on in those Saturday night wacky and hilarious local TV programmes.
- Discover unknown places:
Whether you are using AI translation at the beginning of your study, in a country you are visiting just once, or using your own mastered foreign language skills, you will find that communicating in the local language will help you discover lesser known places that are beautiful, cheaper and more enjoyable.
Conclusion
Being a student in a foreign country is daunting and exciting at the same time. If you manage to communicate with the locals and other people along the way – either through AI translation or your own language capability – you’ll have a truly rewarding experience and the time of your life.
At Mymanu, we believe that there shouldn’t be any language barriers. That’s why we have developed the Mymanu CLIK S earbuds. Its complete versatility will keep you motivated to achieve your fitness goals, help you unwind listening to your favourite tracks in high definition, and open up new opportunities by speaking over 35 languages.
