Travel can bring on an assortment of emotions. You may find yourself speechless at times or becoming the center of attention in some situations.

Philadelphia offers visitors many exciting activities to keep them occupied during a visit, from exploring its historic neighborhoods to tasting its legendary pretzels. History enthusiasts will especially love exploring this vibrant American city!

1. You’ll be able to communicate with locals

Learning just a few key phrases of English will often suffice when traveling abroad, especially to countries that speak the local language. Being able to locate things, order meals and drinks and say thank you can make people more willing to help and provide assistance – thus improving your chances of a smooth travel experience!

Google Translate or Babbel will prove invaluable as they allow you to quickly search up words and phrases without an Internet connection. There are also travel-oriented language programs that will get you from zero to conversational in no time at all!

Hand gestures and pointing can go a long way when communicating with locals in their native tongue, as it shows you’re making an effort to communicate in their native language. Even though it might feel strange at first, locals will appreciate you taking this extra step in communicating.

Utilize friends or family who speak the language of the place you’re traveling! Ask them to meet for drinks or meals where you can practice your newly acquired language skills. Alternatively, find someone local who speaks it and have them teach it!

2. You’ll be able to get around

Major travel destinations worldwide generally feature enough English speakers to make getting around easier. Tourist sites may provide audio tours in English while public transit systems often have maps, brochures and stop names written in English as well. Plus digital translation apps like Google Translate allow travelers to type or point at menus/signs before speaking directly into them for instantaneous translation results.

However, learning basic phrases and words to help get by while traveling abroad is never a bad thing. People sometimes joke that all they really need to know is “Yes,” “No” and “Where’s the restroom?” However, learning these essentials and other useful words will make your trip less taxing, less stressful, and more enjoyable.

Altering your viewing habits by switching over to movies and TV shows produced in the language you are trying to learn will quickly accelerate your efforts! At first you may require subtitles; eventually you should be able to follow along without them. Download useful apps like Google Translate and local maps before traveling as backup should connectivity issues arise during travel.

3. You’ll be able to get a feel for the culture

Learning a local language will enable you to easily break down language barriers and form meaningful relationships, whether for business or pleasure purposes. Learning will open doors that may otherwise remain closed for you while on travels abroad.

Many countries and regions boast their own distinct cultures and customs, providing you with access to parts of the world most travelers never experience. Apps such as Pimsleur or flashcards before traveling can help prepare you to immerse yourself in another language and culture as well as gain knowledge of regions you will visit on your journey.

As a solo traveler, speaking the local language is absolutely crucial for your safety. Knowing just a few essential phrases will make meeting people much simpler, finding off-the-beaten-path spots more easily, and enjoying all aspects of food and culture in your destination city. Plus it helps get oriented faster!

4. You’ll be able to make friends

Experiences you cherish most when traveling come from meeting new people, and knowing a foreign language makes making friends much simpler. Travelers take great pride in connecting with natives from other countries; knowing their native tongue gives you that ability and more!

Can Be Strikingly Foreign It can be daunting to visit places you don’t understand the language, leading to some people giving up traveling altogether – however this shouldn’t be used as an excuse for missing out! Language shouldn’t stop us seeing more of the world!

One way you can prepare is to do research into the language ahead of time and learn some essential phrases that will make communication simpler. Apps such as iTalki and HiNative offer virtual conversations between local speakers who speak their native tongue and you, giving you another opportunity to practice speaking it fluently.

Bring along a dictionary or phrase book to help understand what others are saying, as well as hand gestures to make yourself understood more quickly. Avoid speaking loudly just so you’ll be heard – this can be offensive in certain cultures.