Tips for learning languages while on holiday

by Izabela Wisniewska

When you are going on holiday there is a lot to remember and a lot to do, if you forget something essential your holiday could be ruined. With this in mind it is a good idea to make yourself a checklist for a holiday abroad, and include on this learning the language. If you don't have time to learn the language before you go abroad you can always learn it while you are on holiday. Learning the language while on holiday isn't as difficult as it sounds, in fact being surrounded by the language can be beneficial in your understanding of it.

To help you learn a new language while on holiday, see some of our helpful hints and tips:

1. Figure out the basics

Before you do anything you should make time to understand the basics of the language you are using, start by understanding the pronunciation, learn the sounds of the letters and words within the language. Also make some time to understand how the grammar of the language you are using differs to ours. Understand about nouns and the masculine and feminine and sometimes neutral forms, also try to understand personal pronouns, such as I, you, he/she, they and the most common adjectives, such as small, big, tired, easy, difficult. It is amazing how much understanding these can help you to get a strong grasp on a language in a short space of time.

2. Speak to native speakers

Take every opportunity you can get to speak to native speakers in their own language, asking them to clarify what they said if you do not understand. Being exposed to the language this way will help you to learn it much quicker. Here are some ideas on ways in which you can meet locals to speak to:

Go to a local market: store holders are generally chatty to people they meet, especially foreigners, and markets usually have signs advertising their products, which will help you to memorise the names of things you might like to buy. If you go to a market a second or third time, try writing your shopping list in the language you are learning, to see what you have remembered and check if you've remembered them correctly.
Go to cafés, bars and restaurants: speak to the people running the establishment and other individuals dining or drinking in there.

3. Take a tour with a native speaking guide

Taking a tour with a native speaking guide or even just an audio tape in the language you are trying to learn can help you to remember local names for buildings and landmarks. If you have a guide with you and the guide tells you something you do not understand, try to ask questions to get a better grasp on the language.

4. Listen to the radio and watch films and television programmes

Listening to the local radio is an excellent way to understand the language and pick up more vocabulary, this will expose you to different dialects and accents within a language which can be confusing when you are first begin learning a language and start to use it.

5. Make native speaking friends

Try to make as many native speaking friends as possible, simply just chatting with them in their language will help you to expand your vocabulary and understanding of pronunciation, grammar and tenses. Having friends is perfect as you can ask them whenever someone says something you do not understand, and they will be able to tell you if you made any mistakes.

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