It's not hard to learn a language when traveling. Here are my tips & tricks.
I have been told on many occasions that everyone, in whatever county you’re visiting, speaks English and it is not necessary to learn their language. While that is true with the more touristy places, it is not always the case with the locals. A little knowledge of their language goes a long way.
So, I always tried to learn a few simple words and phrases before I went abroad but found most of the learning options rather inconvenient for me. I’ve tried everything from pocket phrase books, which I found cumbersome and difficult, to online courses, which were a little too slow paced and repetitive for me. Finally, after a lot of trial and error, I landed on audio courses.
I was prepping for my next excursion and found a few language courses on Pimsleur Conversation System, which I bought off EBay, that really worked for me and my learning style. They have many languages available which has made it a great option for me. So far I have practiced French and Czech, and I am working on my German right now. I download the discs for each lesson on my IPod (yes, I still use my IPod – don’t judge) and listen to them when I am getting ready in the morning. The lessons are about 30 minutes long and I can repeat them and go at my own speed. It is a great inexpensive option, and I have even found some at my local public library.
This past fall, my husband and I went to Prague and the weeks leading up to it, I spent every morning listening to the Pimsleur Conversation Systems as I got ready for the day. Although I only learned a few conversational words and phrases, what I learned went a very long way. Not only did it make me feel more comfortable, but it also made the locals more comfortable with us as tourists. I could see how shop owners eyes would light up when I would just use my few words of Czech to start conversation. One souvenir shop owner even gave my husband and me an extra gift because she commented that it was so rare to see people from other countries making the effort. Our tour guide from Prague to Dresden even commented how impressed she was that I took the time to try and learn the language. I must again admit that I only learned a few words and practiced while I was doing something else so it really wasn’t too much effort on my part.
You really get so much back when you learn a few words and phrases before you visit a country. You do not have to speak the language perfectly or even pronounce the words precisely, but just putting in that effort shows so much respect to the locals. Think about it this way: how much do we appreciate it when tourists, who don’t speak English, come here and learn a few words and try to converse with us? It goes such a long way. It really is the same for us as foreign travelers – most of the locals appreciate the thought and give us an “A” for effort. So next time you are traveling to a foreign country, try to hope on a language course that works for you and learn a few key words and phrases and see where it takes you. You might be amazed.
Below is a YouTube video I did with a little more information. Hope you enjoy!
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