Could You Work Abroad and Speak the Language? (Part I)

When I went to live and work in Spain I already spoke some of the language but it was still a pretty terrifying experience. Starting a new life and a new career is something which more and more people are doing these days but that doesn’t make it any easier.

If you are thinking about learning a second language in order to work in a foreign country then here are some of the factors to take into account.

The Hours

I was used to working a 9 to 5 day in the UK and I was pretty comfortable with this sort of routine. As I was just moving from one bank to another I foolishly assumed that even in a different country my hours would be the same. Not for the first time it turned out that I was wrong. I had to get there at 8 and work all the way through to 3 in the afternoon without a lunch break. I really enjoyed this way of working and having so much free time in the afternoon but I was usually ravenous by the time I got home. If they want to work in a Spanish bank after they learn Spanish Birmingham students should practise skipping their lunch to see if they can cope with this routine.