Report: Gaining experiences abroad Introduction The aim of this report is to take a closer look at the language and cultural aspects of gaining experiences abroad. Going to another country brings a lot of benefits but it can be also challenging at the same time. At the end a few recommendations are given. Language For many people learning a foreign language is the most important point of going abroad for a longer period of time. As a new language learner it is recommended to go for at least three months. Though most people get the best language immersion when living for a year in a foreign country. Then the host language is established well enough to enable you to travel in the country independently. Cultural understanding The second most important aspect of living abroad for some time is to learn about the different culture. For a lot of people this can be also an intense time, where they review and understand their own culture better. You might discover that something that is deemed very important in your country, is not considered at all in the guest country, and life is perfectly possible without it. The same observation can be done the way around. Recommendations A lot of people reported language learning difficulties because they stayed to close to their native language when being abroad. It is definitely recommended to learn about the host culture before you travel. With this preparation will not be too surprised if people react in an totally unexpected way to your own intuition.