by Melissa Miller
Traveling overseas to experience a foreign country's culture off hand is one of the easiest ways a person can learn and perfect a foreign language. After all, you are forced to challenge yourself and speak in the host country's language in order to ask for food, ask for directions, and make other purchases. But even if you formally take college courses to teach you a particular language, sometimes you can forget certain words or phrases once in your host country. To make your experience go a lot smoother when traveling abroad and to make sure you're still enriching your mind, consider downloading these three apps listed below.
If you have momentary brain freeze and need to remember how to say "bread" in your host country's native language, all you need to do is simply enter the English word in Translator and the free app will spit out the word for you. Since it helps translates more than 18 languages, it's like you're carrying several pocket dictionaries with you at once.
While there are tons of translator apps like the one we listed above, sometimes you don't have enough time to physically type in the message or phrase that you would like to get translated into English. For instances like these - like when touring a museum, trying to read a street sign, or when trying to pick something from a restaurant menu for example - the app Word Lens can really come in handy. What it does is allow users to take a photo with their smartphone camera and then the app will automatically translate the Spanish, Italian, or French words into English. The app is available to both iPhone and Android users. The app is free.
Last but not least, if you want to brush up on your language skills before you venture off into your host city, then it's best to review some traditional speaking elements like foods, streets, and some conjugations. The easiest way to do this successfully (and without having to drag along your heavy textbooks) is to download BUSUU - a free app designed to teach individuals several different foreign languages on the go. The app is available to both iPhone and Android users.
No matter how many years you've studied a language, once you actually visit the native land sometimes you will realize that it's completely different than when speaking it in the classroom. In case you have a brain freeze or forget a certain word, make sure that you're prepared by downloading the apps above.
Melissa Miller is a freelance writer and blogger who loves to give education advice. Her articles often aim to help you on your way to landing associate degree jobs. If you have any suggestions or comments, shoot them to melissamiller831@gmail.com.
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