Comments on: 7 Tips For Learning A Foreign Language On The Road http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:31:24 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Andrew Jiggs http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-90631 Andrew Jiggs Wed, 06 May 2009 05:44:55 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/#comment-90631 Learning some of the language can mitigate culture shock, too-- especially since you're probably going to learn some culture points while you're working on the language regardless. It just makes you feel less alone when you can communicate with a native in something besides English. Learning some of the language can mitigate culture shock, too– especially since you’re probably going to learn some culture points while you’re working on the language regardless.

It just makes you feel less alone when you can communicate with a native in something besides English.

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]]> By: Guía rápida para aprender un nuevo idioma estando de viaje - Nuestro Rumbo http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-74535 Guía rápida para aprender un nuevo idioma estando de viaje - Nuestro Rumbo Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:39:46 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/#comment-74535 [...] | bravenewtraveler Más noticias sobre: Consejos, Culturas Tags: adentrarse en las culturas, Consejos, [...] [...] | bravenewtraveler Más noticias sobre: Consejos, Culturas Tags: adentrarse en las culturas, Consejos, [...]

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]]> By: Abdul http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-73060 Abdul Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:47:15 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/#comment-73060 One of the best ways I find to get into the language while traveling is to listen to language learning podcasts. Most of them are free and quite useful. I've got my Ipod full of them. My favorite one is for learning English. http://www.china232.com One of the best ways I find to get into the language while traveling is to listen to language learning podcasts. Most of them are free and quite useful. I’ve got my Ipod full of them. My favorite one is for learning English.
http://www.china232.com

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]]> By: Stella Gandanko http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-70869 Stella Gandanko Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:11:39 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/#comment-70869 I also recommend audio tapes -before- the journey (Pimsleur is quite good). Before I went to the middleeast I listened to arabic language tapes for a few months on the drive to work. Although I had forgotten a good deal of it before I landed, I remembered some basics. Knowing how to say "where is" and "what is" and "when" and the numbers is critical, without that I wouldnt step foot in a country that doesnt speak english as a second language, because it would be more expensive and less fun. I also recommend immersive language training once in country. Its quite cheap depending on the provider, I can recommend <a href="http://www.tolearnarabic.com" rel="nofollow">tolearnarabic.com</a> based in Damascus Syria. I decided to extend my trip for a few weeks and learn some basic Arabic, and it greatly improved my enjoyment of the country and the environment. And Damascus is quite reasonably priced, as is the training. So the percentage I spent on language training there was quite small compared to say, diving on the Red Sea. I also recommend audio tapes -before- the journey (Pimsleur is quite good). Before I went to the middleeast I listened to arabic language tapes for a few months on the drive to work. Although I had forgotten a good deal of it before I landed, I remembered some basics. Knowing how to say “where is” and “what is” and “when” and the numbers is critical, without that I wouldnt step foot in a country that doesnt speak english as a second language, because it would be more expensive and less fun.

I also recommend immersive language training once in country. Its quite cheap depending on the provider, I can recommend tolearnarabic.com based in Damascus Syria. I decided to extend my trip for a few weeks and learn some basic Arabic, and it greatly improved my enjoyment of the country and the environment. And Damascus is quite reasonably priced, as is the training. So the percentage I spent on language training there was quite small compared to say, diving on the Red Sea.

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]]> By: NCS Learn A Language Resources http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-65954 NCS Learn A Language Resources Thu, 08 May 2008 05:42:04 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/#comment-65954 GREAT info! Going to put these into use when I travel. Also--love the comments, very good additional info! Thanks! GREAT info! Going to put these into use when I travel. Also–love the comments, very good additional info! Thanks!

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]]> By: Sarah http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-55886 Sarah Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:40:54 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/#comment-55886 Great tips. Definitely agree that learning some of the language, even just a little, will make the world of difference to your experience abroad. It will endear you to the locals who will appreciate any effort you make to speak their language. I have learnt languages to various levels and even when my vocab has stretched to nothing more than 'please', 'thank you' and 'my name is...' it has been worth it to see the reaction of the locals. Point 2 above made me smile...in Morocco last year I learnt a useless phrase in Arabic that had the owner of the riad in stitches for days, and everytime I saw him after that he said it back to me, laughing. Not that the phrase itself was funny - the vision of a white foreigner uttering some random phrase in his own tongue was enough to set him off. Anyone wanting to learn more of the language should consider a language holiday abroad. Cactus Language offers courses from one week upwards in many languages and locations worldwide...thoroughly recommend them, having taken many myself! Great tips. Definitely agree that learning some of the language, even just a little, will make the world of difference to your experience abroad. It will endear you to the locals who will appreciate any effort you make to speak their language. I have learnt languages to various levels and even when my vocab has stretched to nothing more than ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘my name is…’ it has been worth it to see the reaction of the locals.

Point 2 above made me smile…in Morocco last year I learnt a useless phrase in Arabic that had the owner of the riad in stitches for days, and everytime I saw him after that he said it back to me, laughing. Not that the phrase itself was funny – the vision of a white foreigner uttering some random phrase in his own tongue was enough to set him off.

Anyone wanting to learn more of the language should consider a language holiday abroad. Cactus Language offers courses from one week upwards in many languages and locations worldwide…thoroughly recommend them, having taken many myself!

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]]> By: chiz http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-53634 chiz Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:59:43 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/#comment-53634 Good post. You make some great points that most people do not fully understand. "The answer, of course, is that making the effort to speak a few words of the local language will lead to a more authentic, fulfilling, unique and memorable travel experience." I like how you explained that. Very helpful. Thanks. Good post. You make some great points that most people
do not fully understand.

“The answer, of course, is that making the effort to speak a few words of the local language will lead to a more authentic, fulfilling, unique and memorable travel experience.”

I like how you explained that. Very helpful. Thanks.

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]]> By: Tim Patterson http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-38969 Tim Patterson Sat, 15 Dec 2007 20:33:20 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/#comment-38969 Dr. David - your comment makes me kind of sad. I love to hang out with kids when I travel, but it's true that in some places - like Cambodia, where the photo at the top of this article was taken - it's poor form for a single man to cozy up to the youngsters. Still, there are always opportunities to interact with children in a more formal, supervised setting - I often volunteered to teach English lessons in rural Cambodian schools, and at the end of the classes the kids would get a kick out of teaching me some Khmer - under the watchful eye of their teacher. Dr. David – your comment makes me kind of sad. I love to hang out with kids when I travel, but it’s true that in some places – like Cambodia, where the photo at the top of this article was taken – it’s poor form for a single man to cozy up to the youngsters. Still, there are always opportunities to interact with children in a more formal, supervised setting – I often volunteered to teach English lessons in rural Cambodian schools, and at the end of the classes the kids would get a kick out of teaching me some Khmer – under the watchful eye of their teacher.

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]]> By: How To Actually Meet Locals On The Road http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-35648 How To Actually Meet Locals On The Road Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:01:36 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/#comment-35648 [...] should be about immersing yourself in the unexpected - it’s about meeting new friends, speaking new tongues, leaving your comfort zone behind and opening up to a new [...] [...] should be about immersing yourself in the unexpected – it’s about meeting new friends, speaking new tongues, leaving your comfort zone behind and opening up to a new [...]

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]]> By: Dr. David Deak http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-29419 Dr. David Deak Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:38:47 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/10/09/7-tips-for-learning-a-foreign-language-on-the-road/#comment-29419 Great tips for the traveler, I must admit and I have used most of them as I travel frequently to foreign places. I have a problem with #5 though. In this day and age, with all of the reports of child kidnappings, molestations, and other child abuse issues. The last thing I would do; would be to try and "hang out" with kids in any country. That could land you in some foreign prison before you could say "I'm only trying to learn their language" in a native tongue. Rather, may I suggest getting "_________ Language For Dummies?" Perhaps "Travel and Language Tips For Dummies!" Great tips for the traveler, I must admit and I have used most of them as I travel frequently to foreign places. I have a problem with #5 though. In this day and age, with all of the reports of child kidnappings, molestations, and other child abuse issues. The last thing I would do; would be to try and “hang out” with kids in any country. That could land you in some foreign prison before you could say “I’m only trying to learn their language” in a native tongue.

Rather, may I suggest getting “_________ Language For Dummies?”
Perhaps “Travel and Language Tips For Dummies!”

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