How Learning a Language Can Enrich the Way We Travel
Learning Languages to Enrich Travel
Traveling the world has become easier and more affordable than ever before. Despite the travel regulations by WHO which are still in effect in the wake of COVID-19, more and more people intend to go abroad in 2021.
Whether you intend to visit Europe, Asia, or Africa, you may face some difficulties when it comes to talking to locals and getting around.
Not everyone speaks English as their native or even second language, which can pose some challenges for globetrotters.
Published data shows that the most popular languages worldwide are English, followed by Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, French, and Arabic. It’s important to have an open mind and accept that there is a lot that you can learn, even if you are an English native.
This can easily be mitigated by learning new languages, however, whether through a local language school or a learning app. We’re here to discuss how you can benefit from learning languages in the long run and how they can enrich your travel experience in 2021. Let’s take a look at why you should pick up German, Spanish, French, or even English as early as today.
Learning Languages to Enrich Travel
Never Get Lost
An Inside Understanding
Read Local Signposts
Keep a Travel Journal
Meet New Friends
Enjoy Local Cinema
Get Ahead on Learning Languages to Enrich Travel
Never Get Lost When Traveling Abroad
Going off the beaten path when traveling is always a tempting proposition. Without the knowledge of the local language, however, it’s not a very good idea. You can get lost or in worst cases, have your things stolen in local nooks and crannies which can alienate you from exploring further.
Instead of giving up on your plans to travel local towns and sights, you should devote some time to learning a new language. Going to French villages and vineyards and making the most out of your trip is much easier if you learn some French beforehand, for example.
Learning languages will make sure that you never get lost when abroad, a very valuable benefit to consider.
Gain an Inside Understanding of Different Cultures and Societies
The best way to get to know a culture or a lifestyle of others is to speak to them in their languages. Learning languages to enrich travel is a fantastic way to deepen your experience.
Learning French before heading to Africa for example can significantly enrich your experience in countries such as Madagascar or Mali. The same applies to traveling to South-Eastern Europe and learning Serbian or learning Russian and traveling to Central Asia.
The ways people live vary drastically from country to country thanks to different climates and socio-economic standards. By learning to speak their language, they will be more inclined to share insight about their culture or point you toward great places to visit.
Speaking only English or your native language will always imply a barrier between you and the locals, so why not learn a new language to mitigate that?
Read Local Signposts and Maps Yourself
Getting around by reading signposts and maps in English in major capitals such as Prague or Rome may be easy. Venture into the countryside, however, and you will have a more difficult time making heads or tails from local travel instructions. This is especially true for languages that don’t rely on traditional Latin characters in their alphabets, such as Russian or Greek.
Learning languages to enrich travel before visiting a country that doesn’t have a high percentage of English speakers will enable you to read signs personally.
When Learning Languages to Enrich Travel, Try to Keep a Travel Journal in Multiple Languages
Creating memorable moments is an important part of traveling to other countries – it’s what makes the trips worthwhile. Travel journals are a great way for you to create your memorabilia from the trips you take without resorting to traditional souvenirs.
You can collect tickets, stickers, stamps, and other materials from your travel while writing small captions for each one.
With different languages at your disposal, you can write travel journals in French, Spanish, German, and other languages as a means of journaling. These journals can then serve as amazing memories for you to reflect on where you’ve been and who you’ve met in the past.
Moreover, journaling in different languages will help you learn to write, spell, and otherwise speak in those languages while being abroad.
The blog over at WriteMyPaper has some great tips for how you can make the most of journaling as you travel.
Meet New Friends and Acquaintances for Life by Learning Languages to Enrich Travel
Making human connections while traveling abroad is substantially easier if you speak more than one language. You may come across a particularly friendly traveler while hiking through Asia or a helpful barkeep in Bucharest, Romania who simply doesn’t speak English.
The odds of you bonding with the other person dip dramatically if all you have to go on are machine learning translation apps. Instead of leaving things to chance, pick up a new language.
Start learning German, Italian, Spanish, or even Simplified Chinese. These human connections can be lifelong, as many people met their best friends or significant others by running into them somewhere in the world. Broaden your speaking and reading abilities, and you will have an easier time meeting friends and acquaintances while traveling.
There’s a lot to be said for learning languages to enrich travel.
Enjoy Local Cinema, Theater, and Music Scene Firsthand
Wherever you go, you will come across cinemas, stage plays, or local music festivals. These will often be performed in native languages, so knowing only English won’t get you far. Yes, you will still enjoy the audio-visual experience alongside others, but the deeper meaning behind the media will be lost on you.
By learning new languages, you will enable yourself to go to local movies, visit music events, or even go to a nearby theater. These experiences can help learn the language further, and simply allow you to take a breather from traveling.
You will also run into like-minded fans of movies or music while you’re at it, increasing your odds of meeting friends abroad.
Getting Ahead on Learning Languages to Enrich Travel
Learning languages to enrich travel is some of the best work you will ever do for yourself, so why not start and prepare for your next trip abroad? You can use Idyoma to learn new languages in the form of a social media platform where you will be matched to other learners worldwide.
Start learning a new language practically and enjoyably, which won’t take up much of your free time.
Bit by bit, you will prepare for your trip by not only learning the language but also gaining insight and travel tips from other learners. Reach out to people like yourself who are eager to learn and travel, and the process of learning languages will become second nature going forward.
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Author
Donald Fomby is a professional copywriter, content creator, and digital marketing specialist. He is a writer and editor at SupremeDissertations where he aims to provide top-quality writing help to students in need of academic papers. Donald enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling whenever the opportunity presents itself.