In the February poll, I realized that for some of you, language was a barrier to travel.
Learn a language: a barrier?
To tell the truth, I was surprised by this answer. For me, even when I did not really speak English, it was not really a barrier.
Then I told myself that for those who have never had the opportunity to practice a foreign language on a trip, in immersion, it could represent a difficulty, see a brake on travel. And then, everyone does not master a minimum of English. However, to travel abroad , this is necessary.
For a lot of people, learning a language seems like a challenge, while to others , it is an an impossible thing. So, of course, learning a language is always a challenge, it is certainly not easy. That said, if your goal is just to be able to communicate and exchange in a simple way, it is still something that is accessible to all!
Especially with languages like English and Spanish!
Languages: an undeniable asset for traveling!
It’s obvious, but it’s worth remembering! Speaking a language while traveling acts on several levels:
-First of all, being able to communicate will allow you to travel in “comfort” . That is to say, you will not row to find your hotel, ask for the bus schedule etc. Your trip will be easier, and in case of a problem, you will get away easily.
-Then, communicate well will allow you to exchange and share with locals or other travelers. You will be able to express with others your impressions. And really, this is a real plus on a trip! Ask questions and discuss life with a family from Lake Titicaca in Peru for example, it is priceless! And that’s a big difference with the first level. You will not live the same trip, it will not have the same intensity.
– To speak a minimum English for example will allow you to avoid some small classic scams towards the tourist. Any crooks in front will be less tempted to take advantage of you, at least they will think twice.
-Finally, knowing how to communicate with locals also acts on a more psychological level. You will be more comfortable in this foreign environment, and therefore you will have more confidence in yourself. Which is a plus to make the right decisions. Overall, you will be more confident, you will be less an easy target.
Finally, I do not know which author said that speaking several languages develops the intelligence, I want to believe it! 🙂 More seriously, it is certain in any case that your mind is more flexible and your capacity of adaptation greater! These are big benefits.
English is the language of travel . However, we must not stop at English. Indeed, speaking the local language has a whole other range! Thus, in Latin America, with a minimum of Spanish, your trip will take another dimension. To express oneself, to exchange in the mother tongue of the people where one travels is a real plus. In Asia, in tourist areas, many people speak rudimentary English. It’s convenient, but it has nothing to do with exchanging using the local language. …
Language holidays: a solution
What is interesting is that the languages and the trip are getting married very well! It is a couple made to last and that is complete perfectly! Thus, languages are necessary for traveling, and at the same time, it is while traveling that one improves the practice of a language. Moreover, it is often the trip that motivates to learn a language.
For these reasons, for those for whom languages are really a problem, language holidays are a good thing.
These are stays that allow intense learning . Thus a language course of 15 days corresponds to a period of about 2 1/2 months of language courses in France. During such a stay, you will have 30 hours to learn over 15 days, while a student will have 3 hours to learn English / week.
In addition, a language course is intensive, and differentiated learning is more based on oral practice and cases of everyday life . It is thus more interesting to manage oneself abroad. And then, we learn better when learning the uses in everyday life and also in practical cases!
The top stays in total immersion : you are in a host family and more! Thus, you will speak a language continuously, non stop! And then, you will really discover more about the culture of the country.
Do you know Mosalingua? It is an application for learning languages. It’s a friend who created it. I also realized for him a series of dialogues based on my travel stories. He also developed Mosalingua Web: a complete training to learn languages.