Cheap Travels

When I taught Spanish at the University of Colorado I made sure to tell my students about the mistakes I had made so that they wouldn’t repeat them. I’m pretty sure none of them will be ordering polla frita (fried penis) any time soon.

Most Americans think that learning a language is all or nothing; either you’re fluent or you’re not. The truth is that even native speakers make mistakes, and the sooner you accept this the better. These days all the information you need to learn a language is out there for free if you know where to look. Learning even just a few phrases of a language can help you to confidently move around in a foreign country. With a firm grasp on the language basics and an open mind you can essentially hit the ground running when traveling abroad. 

In this article I take you through my thought process on how I approach learning a new language, as well as actually putting it to use.

Letting go of perfectionism

English speakers are especially guilty of making a half-hearted effort and then throwing in the towel when they can’t perfectly express themselves or when they make a few small mistakes. Let’s be perfectly clear; language learning is an exercise in humility. You can check your ego at the door or expect not to get very far. Children have less of a problem with this aspect because they truly are dependent and have to ask for help all of the time. As we grow older we grow more reluctant to ask for help or to admit we’re wrong. Kids on the other hand just want that cookie and will use whatever means necessary to get it. 

For many Americans language learning seems like it takes some special ability that they just never developed as a child. The truth is that learning a language is just like developing any other skill. What many people may not realize is that they have been practicing their native language for their entire life, day in and day out. 

Even once I had achieved basic fluency in Spanish, when out traveling I quickly realized that there were whole groups of vocabulary words that I had never even thought I would need to learn. How do you say carburetor in your target language? Fuel injected? Door hinge? There are always going to be words you don’t know, so try to get past the initial shame early on and save yourself the headaches down the line.

So temper those expectations and let’s look at what language you might want to learn, how best to learn it and where to find language resources that can help you achieve your goals.

Basic pronunciation

Many language learners experience a version of stage-fright where they freeze up when talking to native speakers of their target language. They worry about being judged for making the slightest of mistakes and berate themselves over their errors.

These nerves are natural but also incredibly counterproductive. The earlier you can accept that everyone has an accent when speaking any language the better off you’ll be. I find that the other big hurdle most English speakers face is accepting that other languages’ spelling actually reflect how they’re spoken. If you are still nervous about learning words the way they’re meant to be pronounced, you can take a few hours to become familiar with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). This alphabet gives a universal guide for the proper pronunciation of virtually any word once you know how it works.

ɪts ˈprɪti ˈiːzi wʌns juː gɛt ðə hæŋ ɒv ɪt

‘It’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it’

Which languages for which regions?

Though these languages are widely spoken, their distribution makes it so that there are now numerous dialects for each one. Generally the core grammar will stay the same but some of the everyday vocabulary may change, so keep this in mind when choosing a language. 

You can play a numbers game if you plan on traveling everywhere but think about which countries you truly want to visit and spend time in as well as why. I know a lot of people who spent years studying a language because it “sounds pretty” but they have never actually put it to use out in the wild.

For what it’s worth, the United States is among the world’s top 3 countries where Spanish is spoken. Though the US has no stated official languages Spanish will only grow in importance over the coming decades. Already in many states Spanish is an available option for medical care as well as for official services like paperwork at the DMV.

Which languages are easy to learn and which ones are hard?

Fortunately, people have already done the work of mapping out a pretty good list of languages based on their difficulty of acquisition for English speakers. The list factors in a number of things like shared vocabulary, language structures, writing systems and difficulty of pronunciation (tonal languages anybody?).

For some languages, such as Japanese, there could be thousands of characters that a fluent speaker would be expected to recognize. This list isn’t necessarily saying that you should steer clear of a particular language because it is level 4 or level 5, rather that you should expect to invest a bit more time to reach proficiency.

The most important factor for learning is whether or not the motivation is there. If you love watching anime already and want to learn all about Japanese culture, that passion will keep you studying much longer than simple practicality. Conversely if you have no interest in Dutch culture it may take you even longer to learn Dutch versus Korean simply because of the lack of motivation to study.

I’ve decided I want to study x language, where should I start?

Whenever I’m tackling a new language I like to start with practical and functional vocabulary and build up from there. First we’ll need to know a handful of words which will be vital to understanding, asking and answering questions; personal pronouns. You’ll find printable reference sheets for any language online. Once you have those down, then transitional phrases.

You can find convenient lists of these in PDF form for any language online or buy reference sheets to help you memorize them. You can also absorb them through lots of practice but I find it handy to have something to reference as I begin putting a language to use.

Once you’re familiar with basic pronouns for the new language, you can start to play around with other types of words. Think about the words you know as your linguistic tool kit. You need to be able to ask basic questions, and just as importantly understand the answers they’ll get in return.

Interrogative words

Who, what, where, when, why, how, as well as their counterparts, which will be part of the answers you’re looking for. Think of it this way – if you ask why, but you don’t know the word “because” then you might well miss the answer to your important question. Most of these questions have sets of words that are commonly used in responses – if you ask “where”, you’ll need to know the words “here, there, over there, everywhere” and so on.

Even if you make grammatical mistakes while using these basic words, most people truly trying to communicate with you will help work to make sure you both understand. If you’re in a place that is not touristy, the exchange may even make their day.

Transactional expressions

These are the most basic phrases that you’ll need to survive in any foreign language interaction. These phrases can be memorized at first and them picked apart later once you start to develop a deeper understanding of vocabulary and grammar.

Where is the…? How much does … cost? What time does … open? 

I would recommend memorizing a handful of these early on which you can dissect later once you can use them successfully. 

Keep in mind that while it’s necessary to memorize these phrases when starting out, you should be sure to ask questions that you can understand the answers to. Most language learning books will start you out with some basic questions and the necessary words to figure out what people are likely going to say in response.

Essential basic vocabulary

Numbers 1 to 1000, simple colors, food and drink, a few dozen common expressions, telling time and high frequency words like left and right. Think the bare minimum you would need to communicate in a life or death situation in an unfamiliar place.

If you’re already comfortable with foreign languages this should only take a few weeks of study for a new language. If you’re just starting out with second language study it may take a little more time but there’s no rush. By approaching language learning in a practical, systematic way all you really need is time and patience.

Highest frequency words

With access to massive amounts of data, you can pare down what you study to get the absolute most out of the time spent. In this context, word frequency refers to how often a particular word is used in conversation compared to all other words. 

By looking carefully at word frequency lists you can vastly improve our chances of knowing what is being said to us. If you can memorize the top 100 most frequent words you’ll be able to understand the vast majority of everyday spoken language. And if you know how to ask what something means, you can clear up any other confusion.

Verb conjugations for the 10 or 20 most frequently used verbs (at least in present tense)

Ah, verbs… the reason why so many people quit learning foreign languages altogether. For starting out I would recommend finding verb charts that show you the way that most common verbs are conjugated (i.e. you walk, he walks, etc.) and try to find similar patterns.

Generally speaking most languages will have a set of core verbs that have very irregular versions and then a set of rules that almost all other verbs will follow. Don’t get too bogged down by this if you’re just starting out, just try to memorize and successfully use and recognize these verbs in order to get by in day-to-day situations.

Specific vocabulary relevant to your own interests or needs

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergic, fish and meat all come immediately to mind. If you have strict dietary needs you’ll be responsible for communicating that. Be prepared for some puzzled looks and fuzzy boundaries- I’ve seen people order “vegetarian” dishes and still find bones in their soup.

If you have any hobbies you would like to do while traveling, it will also be important to look up any vocabulary you’ll need for that as well.

Make sure to investigate regional vocabulary if you intend on using a widely spoken language like Spanish or Arabic- vocabulary can vary from country to country or from continent to continent. 

Filler words

I’m including these in the list because clearing this up when you start out can save you a lot of headaches down the line. While many of these words won’t turn up on lists of the ‘top 10 verbs to know’ or the like, they create a lot of confusion for beginner language learners.

By filler words I’m referring to common words like “uh”, “umm”, “like”, “basically” or “you know”. In linguistics these are often referred to as discourse markers or fillers. As you can imagine, most people incorrectly assume that every word spoken would carry meaning. Learners can get quickly burnt out trying to decipher what the other person really means. 

While it can take years to reach true mastery of a language, the basics for communication can be learned in just a month or two if you approach it in a sensible manner. If this is your first foreign language it may take you a bit longer, but as you get the hang of language learning picking up new ones becomes faster and easier.

Where can I find resources with this sort of information?

Language textbooks can either be found in used book stores, at your local library or purchased online. They also sell laminated grammar sheets in university bookstores or on the internet. These are mostly used as reference sheets for university classes but they are a useful tool if you want to get a quick overview of a language’s grammar.

Travel vocabulary books, bilingual dictionaries, and multilingual thesauruses can all be found online if you want a physical copy you can mark up, or you can simply borrow them from a library. This day and age you can find applications for most things on your phone which makes learning on the go a breeze.

I’ve read about language learning apps. Are they worth looking into?

For beginners this can be a very convenient way to get some exposure to grammar and start learning new vocabulary at the same time. My recommendation would be to have some sort of general reference material like a book or a grammar reference sheet to help you situate the information you’re learning to use with your app.

Most language learning platforms use gamification to keep you coming back to maintain your learning streaks and compete against your friends. Though some of the sentences they ask you to translate may seem odd, they will put your knowledge of functional language basics to the test in a fun and engaging way.

These apps often make use of the concept of Spaced Repetition which is designed around your linguistic strengths and weaknesses. If a particular set of vocabulary words is giving you a hard time, they will repeat more often in your practice rotation until you can demonstrate understanding of them. The concepts you already mastered come up less and less frequently, only keeping them in rotation to test them right at the point where you would be forgetting them.

I highly recommend trying out some programs like DuoLingo or Memrise for starting out. If you’re hoping to achieve higher levels of fluency you can also try your hand at translation in the Duolingo app or a paid platform like Babbel.

Beyeond the streaks and gamification, these language learning apps are a convenient way to get introductory exposure to a new language to see if you enjoy studying it. Before you go all in on subscriptions and books just make sure you are interested in the language and the culture of the people who speak it.

Other useful language resources

Once you have developed a basic proficiency you can search for language tables in your area where people get together to practice a particular language at a cafe or restaurant. I used to go to language exchanges on a weekly basis where we would spend one hour in English and the next in Spanish. This is a great way to develop a language learning community as well as to make new friends. 

My first year living in Spain I also did a language exchange with a friend I met at a language group who taught me how to surf while we practiced English. He had made an offhand comment about surfing and I proposed the idea to him right then and there. Don’t be afraid to propose language exchange ideas, the worst they can say is no.

Taking a look at the local Meetup groups to see what’s available around you is another great way to find people who share your interests. Many times you’ll find expats who simply want to speak their native language and love helping people practice while enjoying a cup of coffee.

If you’re close to a university many language departments offer round-tables with students that are often open to the general public. This again is a great way to get to know people from other classes and skill levels who have similar interests or went through the same learning challenges that you’re going through. I met tons of people through my university’s Portuguese practice group which helped keep me motivated in the classroom.

If the idea of practicing in a group makes you uncomfortable or you live in a remote location there are websites like Hellotalk or Tandem which can connect you with language learners from all over the world, wherever you are. 

In this day and age there are practically unlimited resources available for language learners. Find one you’re comfortable with and start small. With an internet connection and a library card practically anything can be learned these days.

Increasing fluency through translation

Once you eventually build up a decent amount of vocabulary you can try your hand at translating your own thoughts. It may take you a while but this exercise will help you find new words that may be useful in your target language, or to find simpler ways to describe complex concepts without really specific vocabulary. 

“You know that thing… on a door? That you pull? To… open it…?”
“… a ….doorknob?”
“YES! THAT!”

Using ‘circumlocution’ or describing around a word or concept rather than specifically naming it is a skill that comes in handy when traveling abroad. If you’ve ever played the game Taboo, you’re essentially playing that but with yourself in a foreign language.

Even after living for years in Spain and over a decade of learning Spanish, I still often forget specialized vocab words. If you can’t think of the specific word for ‘doorknob’ that is not coming to mind, don’t sweat it. If you can describe what it does or what it’s used for someone will eventually help you out. Remember that language is a collaborative tool and that most people are willing to put in some work to make sure you’re understood.

Final thoughts

When I began learning my third language I felt a natural inclination to learn ALL languages. But after a few more years of study I realized that the real bottleneck was not the ability; just about everyone is able to learn infinite languages but no one has the time.

It is easy enough to learn language mechanics and make yourself understood, but each one comes with an endless pool of cultural references, quirks and exceptions to the grammar rules. My advice is not to get too bogged down by perfectionism, as perfect can often be the enemy of good enough. Let yourself make mistakes, be humble and have fun with it. Seeing language as a tool to help you connect with the world will help keep you going. Travel is an adventure just as learning a language is, just as most things in life are. Don’t take yourself too seriously and remember to enjoy the ride.

Have any other tricks for learning a new language? Drop a comment down below and let me know how your learning experience has been.

Useful links and further reading

Free language practice platforms

https://www.meetup.com/
Search for language exchanges near where you live

https://www.hellotalk.com/?lang=en
Free language exchange app

https://www.tandem.net/
Language exchange app where you can find people who want to practice your language in exchange for helping you learn theirs

Language learning apps

https://www.duolingo.com/
Maybe one of the most famous free language learning apps out there. I’ve used it for several years now to help when starting a new language

https://www.memrise.com/
Another language learning app using spaced repetition

https://www.babbel.com/
A paid language learning app with an emphasis on real-world situations

https://www.rosettastone.com/product/mobile-apps/
Free version specifically for travelers. Rosetta Stone isn’t just selling at airport kiosks these days

Other links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition
Further reading on spaced repetition and how it works

https://effectivelanguagelearning.com/language-guide/language-difficulty/
Language difficulty ranking