HOW TO LEARN A LANGUAGE FOR TRAVELING ABROAD

How to learn a language for traveling abroad

Why it’s good to learn the basics of a language before traveling abroad

I believe learning at least some of the local language before traveling is worth it for a few reasons. First of all, it enables you to communicate with locals and can be really helpful in emergency situations. Secondly, it can help you build meaningful bonds with people you meet along the way. In my experience, this can make your stay a lot more enjoyable and memorable. Besides, learning a language simply shows respect for the local culture and is seen as good manners.

Step 1: Immersion

For me personally, language immersion means simply immersing yourself in music, podcasts, movies, books, even certain language apps etc. in the language you’re trying to learn. This helps you grasp how the language works, which enables you to later develop better speaking and listening skills, as well as gain some new vocabulary. Also, it often provides a real-world context for language learning, so you can practice understanding in situations that may potentially happen when you’re traveling.

It also allows you to get to know the culture, customs, and history of the country you’re visiting. This is always my initial step when I start learning a new language. I like to get familiar with it at first, before beginning the ‘main’ process of intentional studying. Besides, it actually increases my motivation to learn the language, maybe because this method doesn’t require much effort but is still pretty effective.

Step 2: Learn the alphabet/writing system

Starting to learn a new language by first learning its alphabet or writing system has a number of benefits. This approach allows you to read and write in the language, which is essential for effective communication. Moreover, understanding the alphabet helps you learn the correct pronunciation since many languages have specific sounds associated with particular letters or characters.

I’m personally going to Croatia in 2 weeks and I’m actually trying to learn some basic Croatian before traveling. What I did in the beginning was I looked for YouTube videos in Croatian, and after watching some of them I realized we have practically the same sounds in Polish so I managed to learn the alphabet and pronunciation quite fast.

Step 3: Learn basic phrases

According to me, this is the most crucial step of learning a language before going abroad. If you only do this step, you’ll be completely fine while traveling. Basic phrases include greetings, introductions, ordering food, asking for directions, etc. and are really useful in interacting with native speakers. You can immediately start using them in everyday situations, which is very motivating and practical. It can also be more effective than memorizing individual words since phrases provide a memorable context, whereas isolated words – don’t.

I highly recommend searching for street interviews in your target language on YouTube, such as EasyLanguages videos. I’m currently watching some videos by EasyCroatian because I enjoy the way they interview locals on interesting topics like culture, language and travel. Moreover, they always put double subtitles which is really useful to visually see how different words are written. Another great thing about it is that they use very common language, not the one you can usually find in traditional textbooks. I also try to repeat each sentence out loud to practice pronunciation.

Step 4: Learn most common verbs (in present tense)

The next thing to do when learning a new language before traveling is to learn 20-30 most common verbs in your target language conjugated in present tense. This enables you to build basic sentences, engage in everyday conversations, and express immediate needs effectively. Apparently, 20 most common English verbs include: to be, to have, to do, to say, to go, to get, to make, to know, to think, to take, to see, to come, to want, to look, to use, to find, to give, to tell, to work and to call. If you just learn these verbs, you’ll manage to communicate a lot of things in your target language, and if you also learn the conjugation in present tense, even better.

Step 5: Learn words YOU frequently use

This one might be obvious but when learning a new language many people make the mistake of not studying the words that are actually relevant to them. It’s easy to google 500 most common words in a language, but they aren’t going to be useful to every single person. It makes more sense to think about your passions, job, favorite things, recent experiences and future plans, and try to brainstorm words that may come in handy when talking with native speakers about these things.

This can also increase your motivation, since you’ll immediately be able apply what you've learned to your own life and interests. And if you decide to keep learning the language, a good way to practice your most frequently used words is through immersion. What I mean by that is, for instance, if you love reading books – try reading them in your target language, or if you enjoy doing yoga – search for yoga videos in the language you’re learning. It’ll help you quickly acquire vocabulary that’s specifically important to you.

Step 6: Learn transition words/filler words

The next step would be to learn some transition words and filler words. Transition words are good to know because they help you connect ideas, express thoughts more clearly, and increase the flow of your speaking and writing. These are words such as ‘moreover’, ‘besides’, ‘also’, ‘instead’, ‘although’, ‘otherwise’ and many more. When it comes to filler words, I’m also thinking of words like Italian ‘allora’, which is often used at the beginning of the sentence to say  ‘then’, ‘so’ or ‘therefore’, but isn’t actually necessary in the sentence. However, such words are very frequently used and it’s definitely worth it to learn some of them to be able to express yourself more easily and more naturally in your target language.

Step 7: Learn basic past tense

Lastly, I recommend learning basic past tense in your target language, which is really practical for everyday conversations and travel. Grammar is arguably less important in language learning than vocabulary, however, I do think it’s useful to know basic past tense to be able to discuss your past experiences. Of course you can have a conversation about it without knowing past tense and still be understood, but considering how often it’s used on a daily basis, in my view, it’s good to know it. Besides, if you know how to use past tense, you can, for example, share stories, describe what you did, and understand others talking about their past.