Life around the world

Thursday, 9 November, 2017 - 09:24

Can your smartphone make moving easier?

by MollyBlogger2017

Moving to a new place – in my case, a new country – is always daunting. However, make the most of the resource right at your fingertips: your mobile phone.

Like many millennials, my smartphone is never out of reach. Whether waiting for the next ‘like’ on Instagram or checking a friend’s latest tweets, I’m glued to social media. While this habit can be seen as a waste of time, I underestimated how useful it would be when settling into a new country.

I discovered that Facebook is a great way to find out what’s going on if you’re new to an area. Local organisations, societies and even bars regularly keep their pages updated with events – ideal for newcomers looking to make friends and explore their new surroundings. For example, my friend and I regularly attend a ‘language exchange’ evening at a local bar, which we learned about via Facebook. It’s a fun way to practise our French!

I joined online groups for people in the same situation (for me, this was local British Council assistants). This helped me meet new people with similar interests and ask for advice. For example, when struggling with (famously complicated) French bureaucracy, it’s reassuring to hear that others have the same experiences. However, always follow safety guidelines if you meet people you’ve met online in real life.

Technology is also useful for learning languages. For example, try switching your phone’s language setting, and certain phrases become second nature. Apps like Duolingo are handy for revising grammar, and never underestimate the power of YouTube in learning a new language. By watching videos and vlogs, I’ve picked up plenty of new expressions (especially casual phrases that I’m unlikely to come across in school).

Social media is fantastic for keeping in touch with friends and family back home. For example, Skype calls are perfect for keeping homesickness at bay. However, be careful not to spend too long gazing at your friends’ tweets and Instagram posts. It’s really easy to get wrapped up in missing home and feel left out, rather than making the most of your new surroundings.

So, while it might seem that staring at a mobile phone screen is antisocial, it helped me to make the most of moving abroad.

Language level
Discussion

Do you think you’d use your smartphone in the same ways as Molly if you moved to a new place?

Submitted by jasv1805 on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 15:23

The cell phone is very useful for when you are moving to another country because you can serve as a translator in case you do not know the language of that country very well, it can serve as a map for you to always be located and do not have problems to reach any place, it helps you to always be connected, you can find what to do in the city you are going to live. In conclusion, the cell phone is very effective when you move to a new city.

Submitted by BarbieG on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 15:22

Yes, a few year ago, i began to meet new people from other countries. We used to speak in english and also teaching us some meanings of words from our countries. Like many people i've change my phone to english, i used to travel all year to the US for visiting my family and improve my english
Profile picture for user Hououin_Kyouma

Submitted by Hououin_Kyouma on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 15:20

HI again my dear friends. as you already know me I´m Hououin and i am a mad scientist . my cellphone is really useful when I travel it helps me to be cautious about the organization. With my Assitance Cristina well she is my girlfirend but do not misunderstandme i really have 16 years old but I mostly use it to comunicate to not feel alone but also to see great activities near by. bye jhon

Submitted by japa2134 on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 15:20

i think offcors yes, because the cellphone helps a lot, when you dont understand something ther are many apps that doesnt need internet and translate when someone talk, there are some apps that help in ubication too, the only disadvantage is that if you use it too much you might be dependent of ypur cellphone Jairo 11E
Profile picture for user Okabe_rintarou

Submitted by Okabe_rintarou on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 15:18

I really believe that technology is really a good form of having acces to a lot of events and opportunities to meet new people, like my internet friend jhon, that helped me a lot with my staying in USA. Also to find places where i can have a good time with my friends of the laboratory and drink a lot of Dr pepper :). And also to have a source of information when i dont understand the laguage or things that are propperly from the culture. Nicolas 11E

Submitted by PeterJackson on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 13:07

I will use the cellphone to communicate first with my family and use to translate things that i don't undestand.

Submitted by danirod on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 13:07

I do believe that the cell phone is useful for these cases since if you are in a new place you can have the support of communication with someone in the same way if you need any support of any application, etc. In addition to this you will have the possibility to consult in your browser places that you can visit, however I think that the use of the cell phone in this case you have to have it controlled since you may leave aside your trip just by being aware of your cell phone. DANIELA 11D

Submitted by NG19 on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 13:05

i think the cellphones are a very good means to communicate withour families while we travel. it is safe and easyand anyone can do it .also works averywhere in the world. you can save your memories as the photos and video

Submitted by riverap24 on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 13:04

Yes, I consider that the way Molly use her smartphone is appropiate. She used to make her process of adapting easier by getting help from people that are doing the same process. Also I will use to knowing better the place where she is living. Finally, use the phone to keep in touch with the people you love, like family and friends, is a way to share your experience and dont miss them so much and get from them support in the process. Also get technolopgy as support from your learning process, and particular the language learn.

Submitted by piza0103 on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 13:04

In part, because also i can use the video call to talk with my family but i dont use facebook so I would use more frequently apps like Instagram and Whatsapp simply because they call me more attention, they make me more practical and versatile. Obviously I will use internet when I move to a new place because this facilitate the communication and the movilization in the place where i going abroad.
Profile picture for user DC11

Submitted by DC11 on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 13:03

yes, in this moment I use duolingo not only to english, i study also franch and german. the smartphone is a good tool if you used in a adecuate form, and the communication is a very important part if you live abroad to know that happen and what you can do in a place

Submitted by camilorodriguez11D on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 13:03

i think technology is a great tool for studying abroad it gives you many benefits and it makes easier your life i think i would probably do the same of moly but with a little changes just thing in all the advantages that technology gives to you like communicating in long distances with your family and study another language search information of the culture and meet new people

Submitted by Upegui on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 13:03

I think the use of the cell phone is wonderful, but if we know how to use it. Obviously for communication is key, it is one of the best tools we have created, not only to communicate with people but also to keep you informed of the events that happen in the world, and to be able to locate in new countries but I also consider that it is bad if it is not known how to use, since people can become addicted to the cell phone and not measure their time in it, and this would lead to the person apart If you are independent, have health problems

Submitted by CESM16 on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 13:01

Yes because is important to find different ways of learning things in other country, in order to become ready to live in other place, learn a new language and caommunicate in a easy way with people from this country and with your family and friends. So i think that is a very useful tool to make your life in another country easier

Submitted by xXDarkDiego23Xx on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 12:59

Yes because an smartphone can help you to know the country and the places that are near you...also you can use the virtual maps to don't get confused and also youcan ask to internet to not get lost.

Submitted by JuanArdila21 on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 12:58

Yes, I think the cell phone is a great tools to see new opportunities, like we can see social medias like Facebook or Instagram we can search from college or universities. Also we can search for Tuition to live, how much it costs and everything. Juan 11D

Submitted by Jerome_Boateng on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 12:54

I think the use of this technological tools i quite big, but in my case, i wouldn´t use my cellphone that much, cause I don´t want to depend of it Jerónimo 11D

Submitted by Robayo27 on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 12:52

Yes. I will buy a sim card from that country or connect from internet. Last year I went in New York and I bought a sim card, but it was really expensive. So it depends on the use an if you really need it. In this case I'm a student so I definitely bought it for using whatsapp, skype or facebook to talk with my family or friends in my country.

Submitted by D_End on Fri, 07/26/2019 - 12:46

I don´t think I´d use it the same way, first of all I´m NOT a millennial. Also, I know for a fact that It is a little bit dangerous to trust everything behind the screen, so I might use the cellphone to keep up with certain things and not get lost but I´d rather play it safe, if I´m in another country it should be because I´m ready and don´t need full assistance Sergio 11D

Submitted by JCGD211 on Mon, 07/22/2019 - 04:40

Yes, i think the way molly use her phone is too useful because she is taking advantage of all of the opportunities her cellphone is giving her to learn and getting synchronized with the new environment she is getting used to, through trying to learn the language with insignificant things such as changing the language phone setups or downloading apps such as duolingo. But in the other hand i would rather to make friends like in the past, you meet the people and you begin a friendship if you consider it would be good to you, not just at virtual where people can be different according to the real life.

Submitted by Ralulol15 on Mon, 07/22/2019 - 02:30

I think that i may use my mobile device in a way like Molly, becouse, i find that it is a very usefull tool for connecting people and helping me whit dealing whit home sickness (and trust me, i do get home sick a lot ) but, i also think that i would use my mobile phone to distract me in a lot of places, keeping me from experiencing a lot of beautifull things that i may have enjoied if it wasn't by my poor attention and my cell phone, in conclución, all good gear is a dangerous weapon in wrong hands.
Profile picture for user Hbarbie

Submitted by Hbarbie on Mon, 07/22/2019 - 02:01

Yes, I think that technology has advanced a lot over the course of all these years and we have been able to learn new things thanks to this, having a smartphone has its advantages and disadvantages, but in this case we can see that it would help a person to communicate on one side to another, from a distant country or something similar since nowadays letters are not used and if they were used it would be more complicated to communicate, that's why technology has changed our world and made things easier for us.

Submitted by nicoruizcrack on Sun, 07/21/2019 - 22:19

Absolutely yes, as Molly and so many other Millenials our smartphone is always near us, we're constantly revising what is happening on social media, but why not use this technologies and tools to learn another language? or even more difficult tasks as choosing a city to live, searching about the different events and types of studies has to offer? If we optimize our time we could make both, look at Instagram, but also be looking for colleges and universities.

Submitted by juanro on Sun, 07/21/2019 - 22:07

Yes, I totally agree with Molly that when one moves especially to another country, one is not accustomed to religion or culture, and what is more important to me on the cell phone is that you can communicate more easily, and your Once I am learning the language of the country where I am going, let's say, if I am from Japan and I am going to live in the USA, first, I will have to adapt to the environment where I am going to live, to become familiar with the city where I will live and the most important , the language, and all this I can achieve thanks to the technology that my cell phone has.

Submitted by JDPBG007 on Sun, 07/21/2019 - 03:11

If I would go to another country to study or live, I think that I would use my smartphone in the same way as Molly, that is to say, no one can deny that thanks to technology many tasks have become much easier for us, and the fact of go to another country where the culture is completely different to that of our country of origin, and we don't know anybody yet, social networks would be very useful for us if we want to interact with native people of that country, and to put in practice the language, also thanks to all the applications that can find us easily locate sites if we do not know the place and among many other things, that would make me finally use my smart phone.

Submitted by fbnmrz on Sat, 07/20/2019 - 21:53

Yes, it is the most important use that i give to my smartphone, because the internet is really amazing and you can find any type of things, so everyone of us have to learn how useful a cell phone can be.

Submitted by ross_001 on Sat, 07/20/2019 - 17:43

It is not a secret that nowadays all or most of us use our smarthphone, and if it is a great tool. When going abroad it is essential to use the Smartphone because it helps us to go to new places, meet different people when we belong to a certain group, to communicate long distance with our family, learn a language .... for this there are different applications that makes our life less complicated.

Submitted by DarkfireT09 on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:41

Yes, i think that this is one of the more usefull things that we can do with our mobil phones when we are living abroad they help us to adaptate to the new place, they can help us to leran the language and know the new culture

Submitted by Latinoman on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:41

i think that the useful of cell phones when you go to other country is important because it functions allow you to move in a city or search restaurants and many places that the normal people go to pass a fun time with their friends or many people but i only put this example, it is necessary to recognize that the cellphones allow you to do many activities in places that you don't know.

Submitted by Jade1429 on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:40

Yes, technology is a great tool to learn and practice a language, the apps are good, but the thing that for me is the best tool is YouTube app, I can see videos in all languages, with subtitles. Is a great tool.

Submitted by fenix on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:40

Absolutely. this kind of resourses are not essential, but pretty useful in some tasks, as the already mentioned. But i have to be honest about this topic, sometimes I may not control the way I use technology, I mean, sometimes I´m overwhelmed refering to all the possibilities this divicesa offer us, and how addictive they can become. But in a general aspect their great if are well used. Objects like smartphones can provide lots of practical things

Submitted by MaNoob on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:39

Well...as all people of my age (17), I'm using my cellphone all the time. But I don't use it to go in social medias or to chat, i use it mostly to play videogames and listen to music. But nevertheless, I think that its really useful when you want to meet new people and talk with your family. We also can use the internet to look for words we don't know or to search how to get to a certain place So...dont't travel without your phone, it may save your life XD

Submitted by mamv on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:39

yes, because the smartphone its a tool and social media isnt bad there are aplications like maps o waze that help you for don´t get lost and de media of comunication like whatsapp and facebook betwwen others, lend you to talk with your family and friends that are far also the facility to order food in the apps. And the help of the translate when you dont know a word or you need to communicate with other person who dont speak your language.

Submitted by camiarroyave30 on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:39

Definitely i´d give the same use to my phone. But also, i do this kind of stuff in my country, i switch the language of my phone into english to practice and improve my secong language, also i used to use Duolingo for studying french. Besides that, yes i think that using social media for go to meetings is a great idea for practicing the language and meeting new people.

Submitted by L18V07M20O02 on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:38

In a world and a time that technology rule's every aspect of our life ,I think I will find a support in my smartphone if I am living abroad ,just for puntual reasons , in your smartphone obvious with wifi you can do many things , so if you get lost you will search on waze how to return to your residence or which line of the metro you need to take , also I will use it to talk with my parents by a phone call or a videocall .Also in terms of language if I don't remember a word or an expresion i will search it on my phone .Even also I'll use it to communicate with my partners or to plan a study group. in that way I think that the smartphone is neccesary when you're starting you new life abroad

Submitted by gameri0111 on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:38

yes the smarthphones are ver important if you are living abroad,is a help for you for example to not be lost with waze,google maps etc,also using the social media you can meet new people,and if you dont speak almost the language of that country a translator can help you,and the most important you can comunnicate with your family that is not with you where.

Submitted by Mane123 on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:38

Yes, because as Molly I think that an Smartphone can make moving little bit easier. You can used in social media for meeting new people that maybe are from your natal country and having a friend that also speaks your same lenguage can make the adapting process less hard. Also an smartphone can help you if someone is speaking to you and you don´t understand, you can just use your phone for translating words.

Submitted by Zavi021 on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:38

Yes, i think the smarthphone is the best way to know thinks, and be part of the groups, if you are bored and you want to do something, the only thing that you have to do is search in your cellphone information of the things that you would like to do, or interesting places. if you want to know people with the same interest that you, yo have to instakl some apps or look them in facebook or twitter. in my personal opinion i totally recomend the use of facebook and interent to find new experiences.

Submitted by Cowboy1103 on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:37

Yes, it is an excellent way to use the smartphone, for our benefit, not to making damage to others, we have to learn how to use the smartphone and the social media correctly. Also is amazing for keeping in contact with friends and family in home. For example, Skype calls are perfect for keeping homesickness away. However, be careful not to spend too long talking with your friends. It’s really easy to get wrapped up in missing home and feel left out, rather than making new friends and meeting new people on your surroundings.

Submitted by meowmeow on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:32

Internet is a good way to communicate with family and pepple that are far from you, and it makes the feel closer, so you wont have to wait until you come back or them to visist you to tell you how's your life going. also internet is a good tool to help you to know where are you going and also if how do you have to manage the culture. and now a days whenever you are, you can know what's going on in your city or country, you can make friends and to know many different places.

Submitted by vale25 on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:31

yes, because when we go of another country where we weren't khow anything about this place we use internet for communicate to the people that is resident if they speak another language, or in another situation when we search a place but we don't know where is it. the smartphone is an useful tool when we are abroad.

Submitted by Manrro2002 on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:28

While i do believe that using the cellphone for learning a new language can be quite helpful, I don't think I'd use social media to keep in contact a lot, mostly because of the nostalgia that it could make me feel. Also I feel like I would also use it for seeing the local places like she did, as it could be easier than asking someone while you are adapting

Submitted by mamv on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:27

I think it could be great to study abroad, because it allows to know new cultures and people having great experiences. Also the job oportunities increase and if i could go to a country where they speak english i can perfection the idiom and certify it

Submitted by rosencratz on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:21

I wouldn´t think so, there are much more things that i usually do with my smartphone that i dont think can be summarized in less than three pages. However, i would probably still talk to my family sometimes, but i would not, in any way, try to attend social events. Im to awkard for that.
English courses near you