How to Navigate Study Abroad When You’re Completely Lost in Class

When you go abroad and take classes with local students, you’ll encounter many things that make absolutely no sense. It’s already challenging to study Spanish, but on top of that, you’re expected to learn about other topics like economics, the environment, psychology, and philosophy—all in Spanish! It’s tough, to say the least. When I studied abroad, my Spanish level was between B1 and B2, and I often found myself lost.

Here are some tips on how to cope, based on my experiences:

1. Say hello to your professors during the first class.

First, greet your professor and explain your situation during the first class. Let your professor know your Spanish level and that you might need some help. Find out if your professor speaks  English. The professors don’t know anything about you or your Spanish skills, so they won’t be aware of your needs. By building a relationship from the start, they’ll be more likely to look out for you throughout the semester. Because I did this, the professor introduced me to English-speaking classmates, assisted me during lessons, and even reduced some of my assignments.

2. Make friends in class.

There will be times when you have no idea what the teacher’s instructions are or what your classmates are saying, and you’ll start sweating nervously. In those moments, having friends allows you to subtley ask what’s going on. They can also remind you about assignments. When something seemed important but I couldn’t understand it, I would talk to the friendliest-looking people around me and ask for help. This also helped me build friendships with others and created an atmosphere where my classmates were willing to support me as an exchange student. And it made me realize the world is much kinder than I had thought.

3. Get used to “not understanding.”

Most important: Get used to not understanding and allow yourself to be okay with that. You’re already in a foreign country, taking academic classes in a second or third language. Just think about how incredible that is!

I used to be quite the perfectionist, having grown up as a straight-A student in Asia. At first, I was frustrated with myself and I felt helpless. But over time, I began to adjust and started thinking, “I’m an exchange student, so it’s natural not to understand everything. If I understand even a little, that’s a win!” This mindset shift made me feel much more comfortable. It also made it easier to ask for help and to feel comfortable attending classes.

Over time, I began to adjust and started thinking, “I’m an exchange student, so it’s natural not to understand everything. If I understand even a little, that’s a win!”

Finally, if you’re struggling during your time abroad, don’t shut yourself away—talk to the people around you! I could always rely on the IFSA program coordinators and tutors whenever I was in trouble. They even helped me with assignments or did research for me at times. The IFSA study abroad program has a strong support system. Rely on them if you need help!

Hiromi I. | Soka University of America | Universidad Nacional Partnership in Costa Rica | Spring 2024