Hacks for learning a new language while traveling: tips and tools for digital nomads
Learning a new language while traveling is a great way to boost your motivation, meet locals, and explore the world. But it's also a lot more difficult than it sounds: how do you stay motivated, not get overwhelmed by grammar rules, and still have enough fun? I've been there—and these tips will help you find success on your own language-learning journey.
Be willing to try new things
You're going to have to get out of your comfort zone if you want to learn a new language while traveling. Be willing to try new things, even if it means making mistakes and looking silly in front of other people. Don't worry about what others think--they probably won't even notice anyway!
If there's something that seems interesting or fun, but also scary (for example: learning how to say "I love you" in another language), just go for it! You might find that once you've done something for the first time, the fear will disappear and leave room for excitement instead. And if not? Well then at least now we know which words are most important when learning how to say "I love you."
Download language learning apps
You can use language learning apps to help you learn a new language. Language learning apps are a great way to study on the go, so if you're looking for ways to learn while traveling and don't have time for formal classes, this is an easy option that's perfect for digital nomads.
You'll find lots of options in the App Store and Google Play Store--just search for "language" or "phrasebook" in each store. There are also many free resources available through websites like Duolingo (duolingo.com), Busuu (busuu.com), Memrise (memrise.com) and WordReference (wordreference.com).
Learn the local lingo
Learning how to say hello and goodbye in the local language is an important step. But there are many more things you can learn before you arrive. For example:
Learn some basic numbers, so that you can tell people what time it is or ask for prices at stores.
Learn how to ask for directions when lost (and ask them in different ways if they don't understand).
Practice asking for help if something goes wrong while traveling by plane, train or bus--this will come in handy when something breaks down!
Practice with locals and other travelers
Practice with locals. Language learning can be a lonely endeavor, but it doesn't have to be! If you're traveling in a country where English isn't widely spoken, there are plenty of ways to find people who will help you practice and improve your language skills. Try joining an online forum or group for expats living in your destination city (or even just local residents). You can also look into meetups or community classes that focus on helping travelers learn about the area through conversation--these are often free or very low-cost and a great way to meet new friends who share similar interests as well as learn from them at the same time!
Practice with other travelers: If you've never tried this before but would like some tips on how best go about doing so successfully
Boost your motivation by keeping a journal
Keeping a journal is one of the best ways to boost your motivation and keep yourself on track. You can use it to track your progress, write down goals, and document the things that worked well for you.
If you're trying to learn a new language while traveling or living abroad, there are several ways in which keeping a journal will be helpful:
Use it as an accountability tool: Keeping track of what you've accomplished each day helps keep yourself accountable for achieving your goals (like learning X number of words). It also gives you something concrete to look back on when reflecting on how much progress has been made over time--and this can be very motivating!
Write down all those little victories: One mistake many people make when learning languages is focusing only on mistakes they make instead of successes they achieve along the way--but there's no need! Small victories like getting through an entire conversation without making any embarrassing errors count just as much (if not more) than bigger ones like passing an exam or mastering grammar rules; so don't forget about them!
Be kinder towards yourself: While learning another language does take effort (and patience), it may not always feel like enough effort is being put forth due simply because humans aren't wired for instant gratification; therefore we often end up comparing ourselves unfairly against other people who seem better equipped at getting results faster than us when really there isn't anything wrong with taking our time and doing things gradually over several months instead of weeks/days/hours
Watch TV and listen to podcasts in your target language.
You can watch TV shows or listen to podcasts in your target language with subtitles in your native language. This is a great way to learn new words and expressions because it's easier to understand what they mean when they're contextualized by the plot of the show.
Try watching/listening to them without subtitles at first, then go back later with them on and try understanding as much as possible (even if some parts are still confusing). Try repeating what you hear or read out loud! This will help reinforce what was just learned and help solidify it into memory for later use.
Don't let yourself get discouraged by grammar.
Grammar is the least important part of learning a language, so don't let it discourage you. I'm not saying that grammar isn't important--it is! But if you're just starting out, it's best to focus on the most essential parts of your target language first and worry about mastering all those tricky rules later.
The best way to do this is by using an app like Duolingo or Memrise that teaches vocabulary through games and repetition (I highly recommend both). These apps make learning fun by giving users daily goals and keeping track of progress as they play through different levels in each game category (vocabulary builder, listening comprehension tests). They also provide explanations for why certain words are used together rather than others; this helps reinforce what has already been learned while providing new information at the same time--which makes it easy for learners who aren't familiar with certain concepts yet such as gender agreement rules or verb conjugation patterns because these things aren't always necessary when speaking informally among friends who understand each other well enough without having them spelled out explicitly beforehand!
Read books that are actually interesting to you, even if they're not written in your target language.
Reading is one of the most important skills you can develop, regardless of what language you are learning. Reading books in your target language is a great way to improve your language skills, but reading anything is better than nothing!
Reading books that are interesting to you can help make learning more fun and increase your motivation to keep at it. If there's no way for me not to read something (like an article or textbook), then I'll put up with it--but if given a choice between reading an interesting book or slogging through something boring like Wikipedia articles about grammar rules? I'm going with fiction every time!
These tips will help you travel while learning a new language and have more fun doing it!
If you're learning a new language, one of the best ways to practice is by traveling. Your ability to communicate and understand what's happening around you will improve significantly, and it's a great way to meet people.
Here are some tips that will help make your travels even more exciting:
Practice regularly on Duolingo or other apps (like Memrise) so that when you go out into the world, there won't be any surprises! If possible try using an app with audio so that listening becomes easier too.
Read signs in shops and restaurants--this will help build confidence in reading unfamiliar words quickly at first glance without sounding out each letter individually like we used to do back in elementary school English class (ahem).
So, are you ready to take on the world and learn a new language? It can be intimidating at first, but no matter where you go or what your background is, there will always be ways for you to practice. The key is to keep an open mind and make learning an adventure!
