Preparing for an impending trip isn't all budgeting, list-making, and packing. In the middle of it all, you've got to tend to your mental preparation, as well. If you're going to a country that doesn't speak your language, giving your brain a chance to get used to the new language can go a long way towards having a smoother trip. We've got some tips to help you immerse yourself, before your trip even begins.
Label The World
While you may get strange looks from visitors, giving yourself a visual indoctrination to a language is a great way to build up your vocabulary. By the time you arrive, you'll be used to seeing "löffel" instead of spoon. The ten minutes a day series
Read a Newspaper/Magazine
If you're lucky enough to have access to a newsstand that carries foreign newspapers and magazines, stop by and pick up a copy of something that looks interesting. While you likely won't understand it all, it's a great way to get a sense of what's going on in your destination. If you don't have a local newsstand to satisfy your urge for periodicals, take your quest online.
Read A Children's Book
Although it may seem a bit silly to be reading a children's book, it's the best way to get introduced to a new language. While your local bookstore probably doesn't have a wide selection of foreign kiddie books, the Internet is there for you. For an easy introduction, find a story that is familiar to you, so you can follow along more easily.
Listen To Online Radio
Listening to music is the fastest way to get to the heart of a culture. Online radio stations give you a chance to listen from the comfort of your home, so get to it!
Download Music. Sing Along.
Put some music on your computer or iPod, buy some CDs, and sing along. It doesn't matter if you can sing, songs are a fast track to language learning. I can't tell you how many words I learned in Italian by doing this, nor will I tell you how much it made Kelly laugh.
Go To The Movies
The next time you settle down to watch a movie, get one in the local language. The key is trying to watch it without subtitles, otherwise you'll spend the entire time translating and no time listening. A full-length feature may be too much at first, so build up by watching short films, tv shows, or even commercials.
Get A Penpal
While talking to an actual, live person may be intimidating at first, it is hands-down the best way to learn a language, learn about a destination, and maybe even make a friend. If you haven't had a penpal since you were a kid, now is a perfect time to pick up the practice again. In your search for international compatriots, don't forget the world of chat. We met Francesco on ICQ many years ago, and Skype is full of people eager to chat. As long as you're willing to chat with lots of strangers and suffer the more than occasional oddball, you'll do fine.
Find a Meetup Group
Whether you're looking to expand your vocabulary, find a tutor, or just looking to practice, attending a language meetup group can do wonders for immersing yourself.
Above all, you have to have discipline. Come up with a schedule and do several of these things every day. Don't cheat; if you completely immerse yourself in the foreign language you'll soon find yourself thinking and dreaming in a new language in no time.
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