Looking for a free resource to help you beef up your language skills before your next trip? Head over to Babbel, an interactive language site which helps you learn a new language through fun lessons, activities, and an interactive community to help keep you engaged.
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.
If you're traveling to a country that doesn't speak your language, you may likely be overwhelmed by hearing the local language when you first arrive. While it's important to learn some key words and phrases, it is also helpful to get acclimated to hearing the local language at full speed.
So, before you leave, search online for radio stations that are local to your destination. If it is possible to listen online, tune in for a few days and you'll find yourself more prepared for the language, accent, and cadence before you arrive.
I've often used this list of Italian radio stations, but don't overlook iTunes' International radio category, BBC's World Service, or the top-notch Radio Locator Service.
What’s the biggest fear of any American traveling abroad? Not being understood. We’ve seen it parodied in movies, reassured friends’ fears, and even heard the cop out, “I’ll go to England for vacation, at least they speak the same language.” Book publishers have seized upon this fear as a money-making opportunity, and exploited it to it’s fullest potential. Enter the travel section of any bookstore and you'll be inundated with titles promising a quick fix, such as Learn Italian in 10 Minutes a Day or German for Travelers. However, we’re here to tell you there is no quick fix. These books are full of too many words, and if you are a procrastinator, like myself, no matter how hard you try, you simply can't memorize all of the words for Italian food on the plane ride over.
