9 Tips for making Spanish friends at university as a foreigner If you are going to study in Spain, it is normal that you want to meet new people and make friends from here. Sometimes this scares us and we have doubts. «Will I know how to socialize well with the Spanish?». "Will you be patient with me
If you are going to study in Spain it is normal that you want to meet new people and make friends from here.
Sometimes this scares us and we have doubts.
«Will I know how to socialize well with the Spanish?».
"Will you be patient with me even though I don't have a very good level of Spanish?"
"How to make friends at university in Spain?"
If any of these questions are on your mind, don't worry, it's normal to have doubts.
But don't be afraid. It is very easy to make friends at university with Spaniards.
You simply apply the 9 tips that we are going to give you in this article and you will see how you become a person highly appreciated by your class friends.
We give you some advice that is very important: know spanish.
It's obvious, right? If you want to successfully overcome student life in Spain, you will have to have a very good level of Spanish.
We can help you with this.
In Hispania, Spanish school, we offer face-to-face Spanish courses in the city of Valencia, one of the cities that currently receives the most Erasmus students worldwide.
In these classes you will learn Spanish alongside foreign students from all over the world.
Can you study with us if you don't come to Valencia? Of course you can!
We also have online Spanish courses for people who want to study remotely.
That being said, let's start with the 9 tips for making Spanish friends at university if you are a person from another country.
Do you want to be the life of the party on your university outings? Well, keep reading and you will get it!
The first step to start making Spanish friends as a foreigner can be by participating in the orientation activities which almost all Spanish universities do.
These activities are designed to help you integrate and get to know your fellow university students.
During the orientation days, different group activities are organized, such as guided tours of the campus, informative talks, presentation games and other dynamics that encourage interaction between students.
Take advantage of these opportunities to engage in conversations and establish ties with your future colleagues.
Another great way to make Spanish friends at university is to participate in extracurricular activities.
Extracurricular activities are not part of your bachelor's or master's degree program. That is, they are not subjects that count for credits. They are done voluntarily.
These activities are very good for expanding your social circle of people with similar interests to yours and find topics of conversation.
Do you like playing soccer or other team sports? Why don't you join sports teams with classmates and play in the college league?
Are you a reading lover? You will surely be in your element in the poetry clubs that some faculties organize.
Do you want to try some martial art? You can make new friends by practicing Karate!
Surely there are also talks and colloquiums related to topics that you like and in which you can participate, debating with other students.
Even if altruism is your thing, there are also faculties that offer community services to help the most disadvantaged.
These are just some examples, the sports and cultural options What the university offers you to interact with other students are almost endless.
Additionally, participating in extracurricular activities gives you a good opportunity to improve your skills and knowledge in specific areas, while you meet new friends.
Remember that the key is in be proactive and actively participate in the activities you like.
For example, you will find many of these activities at the University of Valencia, one of the best university cities in Spain.
If you are going to study in Spain, living with other students is an excellent way to socialize and make friends.
This can be done if you share a flat or do you live in one residence with Spanish students.
Finding accommodation with students is not usually difficult, look for university neighborhoods and there are surely many there.
In ValenciaFor example, students tend to focus on neighborhoods of Benimaclet and Blasco Ibanez.
Living with university classmates is a great way to immerse yourself in Spanish culture.
If you are lucky and create a good friendship with your roommates, you will become friends and share many dinners, parties and nights out.
The best way to establish a friendship with your roommates is to create an atmosphere of respect and tolerance, where each person can express themselves freely and share experiences.
Likewise, be kind and be close and interest in your colleagues so that they trust you.
Additionally, by living with other students, you will have the opportunity to practice the Spanish language constantly, which will help you better adapt to the new local culture.
Still don't know how to make new friends at university?
A good tip is that you have the ability to make plans, instead of waiting for others to do them for you.
We know that this is not always easy, there are people who have more initiative than others to make plans.
But if you're in a new country and don't have friends, you're going to have to make an effort to organize activities and move around people you know. You have to get out of your comfort zone!
What kind of activities can you organize? Here we leave you some ideas:
You can also find out about cycling or hiking routes in the mountains and suggest them for the weekend. Surely you have friends who like it.
Are you going to study in Valencia? Take a look at our article on the best cycling routes through Valencia, there you will get very good ideas 😉.
Many students are not aware of these events, be the one who takes the role of the student who knows all the activities that the university does and reports them on WhatsApp groups and other social networks.
You will see how little by little people begin to become interested in you and your social life grows enormously.
A person who knows the best parties and places to meet people is a person who will inevitably attract many friends.
It seems obvious right? Well, many people overlook it.
Something as simple as saying "hello" to all the people, indicating your name and showing a wide smile generates trust in people.
If you want to meet new people at university, you have to be kind
First impressions are key, and displaying a friendly and open attitude will help you make connections quickly.
When introducing yourself, make sure you also listen to your colleagues and show interest in them.
Remember that communication is two-way, so it is important to have a receptive and respectful attitude.
Also, don't underestimate the power of a smile. one genuine smile It will be well received by the Spanish.
Smiling conveys confidence and friendliness, and can be the first step in starting a conversation.
It is important to remember that each person is unique, so not everyone will react the same way.
Don't be discouraged if you don't get an immediate response, continue to show your authenticity and kindness in your daily interactions.
Remember that the goal is to build solid and lasting relationships, so it is essential be yourself.
If you are going to study a university degree or master's degree in any university in Spain, one of the most effective ways to make Spanish friends is to simply talk to them in their language.
We advise you to purchase a very good level of Spanish. The higher the level, the better you will be able to communicate, and therefore the more chances of making friends you will have.
If you think that your level of Spanish is weak right now, we recommend that you attend spanish classes, is the most effective and fastest way to improve.
You can study with us at Hispania, Spanish school, both in face-to-face classes in Valencia and remotely with our online classes.
Another way to practice your Spanish is by going to conversation workshops offered by the university itself.
In these workshops, Spanish grammar is not usually studied, but rather they seek conversation through debates and topics to talk about.
You can also go to places language exchange in which you can speak Spanish, the language of your country of origin and other languages with people from different parts of the world.
In Valencia there are many bars that do these exchanges. Isn't it a very interesting option to meet new people?
When practicing Spanish with people, remember that you should not be afraid of making mistakes when speaking, as it is part of the learning process.
The Spanish appreciate the effort and we are very patient.
Your classmates will surely be willing to help you master this new language.
When making Spanish friends at university, it is essential show respect and interest in culture of the country.
If Spaniards see that you like Spanish culture and that you make an effort to integrate into the country, they will surely appreciate the effort and invite you to go out with them.
Learn some phrases and expressions that young people say in Spanish, this will make your connection with your friends much faster.
The social networks They have become a fundamental tool to interact with unknown people around the world.
With them, you can join groups related to your interests or your university, where you can communicate with other students.
In addition, it is important to take advantage of the friend search functions offered by these social networks, where you can find people who study on your same campus.
Don't be afraid to add new friends to social media, start virtual conversations, and look for opportunities to meet them in person.
Who knows? Maybe a simple greeting on Instagram helps you become friends for life in the future.
A fundamental part of making Spanish friends at university as a foreigner is being yourself.
Sometimes we are so in need of wanting to make friends and be included in a group that we pretend to be someone else and act strangely.
That is a terrible mistake. Being kind and social with people is not incompatible with being yourself. It is important show us as we are.
This naturalness allows us to build genuine connections with other students and builds mutual trust.
And if someone doesn't like the way you are, then that person won't be your friend, and that's it. You see what a problem!
try speak honestly of what you think, of what you like, of what you feel.
It is also essentiallisten to our colleagues, value their points of view and accept cultural differences, which there will be.
Lastly, it is important to remember that good social relationships are built over time.
Be patient and give him space to relationships so that they are consolidated.
Don't expect friendships to form overnight, but rather to develop naturally over time.
And this was it! Now you know how to start making friends in college.
If you apply these tips, you will surely become a popular person on campus.
Studying in Spain as a foreigner can be a very beautiful and enriching experience. Enjoy it to the fullest!
Which of these tips do you think you need to improve?
Do you think there are other things that can be done to make Spanish friends at uni?
If so, comment in the bar below.
A big hug!
Article written by Carlos Martinez for Hispania, Spanish school.
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