Knowledge of the local language can enhance any international experience even if language skills are not necessarily required for study.
Taking a language as an extra subject in your first and/or second years at Edinburgh is a good way of ensuring that you are equipped, linguistically, for a year or semester abroad. But there are other opportunities for improving your language skills whilst at the University of Edinburgh.
Open Languages
Languages for All
Languages for All is run by the University's Centre for Open Learning, and offers a range of short not-for-credit courses in an amazing variety of different languages. These courses are open to everyone.
Tandem language programme
Other ideas
Edinburgh has several meet-up groups for people looking to practice a foreign language. The Yakety Yak language cafe offers in-person conversation groups across the city for a small fee.
If you enjoy games, language learning apps can help those with a competitive streak challenge themselves and learn at the same time. Try some of the following:
You can also arrange a virtual language exchange through services like italki.
If you like to listen to podcasts, seek out one that supports language learning. Similarly, research popular blogs, vlogs, TV shows or films in your target language. Make sure learning a language is a pleasure, not a chore!