Traveling requires learning a foreign language – or several – in order to experience its culture fully and make friends all over the globe.
Travel writing requires the combination of colorful imagery and commentary with useful information for readers, with two-thirds being colorful details and one quarter facts as a general guideline.
Languages to Learn
Learning a foreign language before traveling overseas can help you navigate and build relationships with locals more easily. Some languages may be easier than others to pick up; to become fluent you’ll require dedication and perseverance – start by memorizing stereotypes to familiarize yourself with it before embarking on your trip.
According to this website, category one languages typically take 26 weeks to learn and include English, Spanish and French – popular and easily understood languages that are widely spoken today.
Russian is another highly useful world language to master. It is spoken in many European nations formerly part of the Soviet Union as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan – countries in which Russian was once widespread.
Chinese is another excellent language to study; it is spoken widely throughout Asia and gaining global influence. Though difficult, learning Chinese can be rewarding.
One of the best parts about travel is meeting new people, and Tandem makes this easier by helping you speak the native tongue and meet people from around the globe. Plus, learning a foreign language strengthens both brainpower and memory!
Languages to Study
English is likely the first language that comes to mind when considering international travel, thanks to centuries of British colonialism and American capitalism. Today it remains one of the world’s most frequently spoken second languages – meaning you should have no difficulty traveling through most countries with English being your primary language.
However, if your travel plans take you further afield, it would be wise to familiarize yourself with some other languages. Knowing Southeast Asia native tongue will prove immensely valuable while for India trips Telugu will assist with exploring southern regions.
French is another great language option as it’s official in 29 nations across four continents and widely spoken among travelers, according to Live Anywhere. French can help travelers understand other European languages since its roots lie in Vulgar Latin. Additionally, knowing Spanish will enable you to travel throughout South America and Africa.
Languages to Practice
As part of your trip, it is crucial that you know the language where you are traveling in order to order food or ask for directions. Memorizing essential words such as “yes” and “no” will help get through most conversations while knowing specific terms like “bathroom” or “toilet” could save a great deal of discomfort in the future.
As another effective way of practicing new skills, listening to podcasts or watching movies and TV shows in the language you are attempting to learn can be an excellent way to put them into practice. Try watching first without subtitles then with them to gauge how well you understand. Soap operas and children’s songs provide particularly helpful practice as you can listen repeatedly!
Travel is an incredible way to relax and refresh, but it becomes even more enjoyable when you can communicate with the locals. Learning a foreign language opens up new experiences for your experiences as well as connecting you with people from across the globe.
Languages to Communicate
World travel offers us unparalleled diversity, and meeting people from countries where your language doesn’t prevail is an unforgettable experience. Learning another language to communicate with people from other cultures is an impressive feat in its own right and becomes even more so when achieved without formal lessons or tutors.
Although English is the global language and is used widely across most countries for tourism, business, immigration and hospitality purposes, it’s always wise to learn at least one additional language when traveling abroad. Russian is particularly useful when visiting most former Soviet Union states, with Finnish being an ideal option in eastern Europe due to commonalities between these languages. French belongs to the Romance family and serves travelers visiting France as well as neighboring European nations while Spanish, a world language spoken widely throughout Spain and South American countries.
Travelers should download translation and navigation apps like Waygo, Babbel or Rosetta Stone several weeks in advance of their trip, to utilize their phones even without Wi-Fi or cell coverage in places. This will reduce frustration that often arises when people don’t understand what someone else is telling them.