How to Learn a Language in 30 Days
Photo by Olya Kobruseva, Pexels.com
Traveling to a new country can be amazing but also intimidating. It’s especially intimidating when the official language is different than your own.
I believe that you should never let a language barrier prohibit you from traveling to a new place. In fact, I encourage it. Immersing yourself in a new place with a different tongue puts you in the shoes of immigrants in the US every day. It will make you uncomfortable and put you in the space where you must think on your feet. And hopefully, it would break the assumption that people should automatically know your native tongue.
That was my case when I went to Martinique in 2017. In spite of the 9 years of French classes, Google Translate and body language were my main communication tools. I was too shy to even speak the little French I remembered.
I headed to Guadeloupe the following year and like Martinique, Guadeloupe is another French overseas region. I wanted to be more prepared this time, so I created a French lesson plan.
In order to learn a new language before your travel, you have to get the basics down. Here’s a few topics that every traveler should know.
Greetings
Directions & Transportation
Common Places
Money
Date & Time
Weather
Food & Customer Service Conversations
Once you have your basics down, learn the phrases and words based on your travel activities. Take me for example. I planned to learn about Creole cooking while on the trip, so I learned a few advanced cooking terms. If you are going to the World Cup in Brazil, brush up on sports terms in Portuguese before starting a conversation at a game or bar.
Besides learning the language, you should also research the cultural behaviors and manners. What might be a compliment in the US might be offensive somewhere else. Learn cultural behaviors such as tipping, proper introductions, and common body language.
Once you gather the all the topics you need to learn, it’s time to choose your learning programs. Since I’m on the go, I tend to use apps. Here are my favorites.
Just in case you were wondering, all the apps I mentioned are free, with the option to upgrade for a fee. But that’s it! I truly believe that with these resources, consistency, and an open mind, you can learn a new language in a minimum of 30 days. But whether you have 30 days or 172, you will be just fine. Remember to be patient with yourself and have fun!