Tuesday, August 7, 2012

How to Learn a New Language While Traveling?

No matter where you go to travel in the world, you’re bound to come across others who don’t speak your language. If you want to know what the other person is speaking, the only option is pantomime and a sign language, otherwise you won't realize what the other person is actually saying.

However, for any person learning a new language is a tough challenge while traveling, and it can easily get so irresistible that you finally just give up. But to learn a language, the easy way is to immerse yourself in that world. With just a few expressions or sayings under your belt, you’ll be talking and acting like a local in no time.

Following are some of the steps which can be helpful to you to learn few words of that language where you are traveling.

Step 1:
Suppose if you are staying in hotel room, then watch television preferably with the English. Read the subtitles and repeat the phrases as they are spoken and learn what they mean. It will be helpful to you to watch the news, as the reporters tend to speak more slowly as well as commercials, since they're easier to follow than television shows and movies.

Step 2:
Suppose you are staying for some days, then take a beginner's language class in that country so that you will get a chance to learn along with local or native students. Or if you stay for an extended period, take intermediate or advanced speaking classes, as well as classes on reading and writing.

Step 3:
Instead of listening to popular music in radio, you listen to local music playing in radio broadcasting. Even if you can't understand the meanings behind the words of the music, it exposes you to how words and phrases sound. Like this, as you learn more words, you will gradually begin to understand what the singers are saying.

Step 4:
Try to talk with locals using the words you know. Speak clearly whatever you know, and explain at the beginning of your conversation that you speak only a small amount of the language. This prevents the other person from speaking too fast and helps you better follow what is said.

Step 5:
If you don't understand a phrase or word, look up the translation dictionary to know the meaning. If the meaning is known to you, repeat it to yourself several times to remember.

Like this, you can learn a little bit of the language even if you don't know that language- when you are traveling in other place.


1 comment:

Bill Chapman said...

Good advice!

I hope you'll allow me to recommend one specific language. I’ve used Esperanto in speech and writing in about fifteen countries over recent years, and I recommend it to any traveller as a way of overcoming barriers and making friendly local contacts.