Traveling internationally can present unique challenges for
inexperienced and experienced travelers. Language barriers present
one of the most common problems that may arise when traveling
abroad. You cannot expect that people will speak your language even
if it is a common language. You can learn the basic language and
culture of the country you are visiting in many ways.
What to Learn
If you are visiting a country, learning key phrases will be
important. It is important to be able to ask where the location of
trains, airports, hotels, restaurants, or bathrooms. Learn phrases
that will help you order food, pay for meals, and show general
respect and courtesy.
Buy a Book
Books are great resources for learning languages and thousands
of books are available on virtually every language. The book should
be designed with the traveler in mind. Rather than an in-depth
study of the language, learning phrases should be the focus.
Learning phrases will help you to quickly communicate and provide a
way of getting assistance. Take the phrase book with you, so that
you can use it during your travel as well.
Audio Courses
Listening to the language being spoken is a great way to learn
how to say basic phrases. It is typically faster than book learning
and provides for better pronunciation of the words. It does not
teach you how to recognize written language. So finding your way
around a city, reading a menu, finding a certain building may prove
more challenging.
Online
There are several sites online that can teach you the basics of
just about any language. Some of these are free services and are
great ways to learn the phrases you need to get you going. The best
part about online learning is there are so many sources available.
You also get text, audio, and picture learning. This mix is one of
the most powerful learning combinations you can use.
When traveling to another country, learning a little about the
language is important. Mix your learning methods for the best
results. It is respectful to the people that you are visiting and
you may find yourself wanting to learn more of the language and the
people that speak it.
