How to Handle a Foreign Language and Travel – you don’t have to master a new language to enjoy a very fulfilling vacation.

Learning a foreign language and travel are often synonymous. While you don’t need to speak a foreign language fluently in order to travel some parts of the world, it does help.

Having said that, I am linguistically challenged but I do try and make an effort to say a few words in another language when I travel.


Desensitize Yourself When You Learn a Language

• At very least, learn just enough foreign words and phrases to help you survive at your destination. Focus on food, water, banks, trains, airports, toilets etc.

• Laugh at your own mistakes because others will. So what if “bordello” isn’t Spanish for train station.

• Don’t worry about speaking fluently. You are not trying to make the grade in school, you are trying to get the most out of your vacation. Besides most locals are happy that you made the effort to speak their language.

• You are most comfortable with what is familiar to you. If you grew up in an ethnic neighborhood you are likely to feel more comfortable with that ethnic group even if you are not actually part of it.





Tips for Handling a Foreign Language and Travel

Your language education can be at different levels:

• Learn a few basic words/phrase for survival. Consider combining this with an English Language Tour.

• Take an introductory language course before your departure.

• Travel independently with a “portable brain” (someone who speaks the language) to help you as you go. My wife is my portable brain – her first language is French and she has some degree of comprehension of Portuguese, Spanish and Italian. With a portable brain you can go beyond just learning a language. You can immerse yourself into a culture.


Here are some language courses that might be of interest to you:

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