If you plan on traveling to a foreign country, it’s best to know how to speak the locals’ native tongue. Learning the basics of a Language before going on a vacation is essential not only to help you immerse in the country’s culture, but also to help you get past sticky situations in a place where English may not be the first language.

Case in point: you’re in Italy and would want to seek help for directions going to Venice’s St.Mark’s Basilica. Or while on a holiday in Peru, you suddenly needed to buy medicine for your migraine. You approach a resident and ask, but he doesn’t understand you because he hardly speaks English. Do you end up doing myriad hand gestures until he comprehends what you are saying or give up asking entirely?

Of course, you can’t expect every person in the country you’re visiting to have a good grasp of the English language. So why not take your travels as an opportunity to learn to speak in the locals’ native tongue? Knowing how to verbally communicate in their language allows you to enjoy a relatively hassle-free vacation in a foreign land.

Months before your vacation, take lessons on the language of the country you’re visiting. This will enable you to study basic words, grammar, and sentence structure. This could be done online, in schools where languages are offered or perhaps with a friend. Some of the phrases below are what you need to keep in mind (I’ve provided some of what I know) :

“Good morning/ afternoon/ evening/ night.”
German: Guten morgen / Guten Tag / Guten Abend / Gute Nacht.
Spanish: ¡buenos dias / ¡buenas tardes / ¡buenas noches
Japanese: ohayou /konnichiwa / konbanwa / oyasumi

“Do you speak English?”
German: Sprechen Sie Englisch? (formal) / Sprichst du Englisch? (informal)
Spanish: ¿Hablas Inglés?
Japanese: Eigo ga hanasemasu ka?

“Please speak slowly.”
German: Sprechen Sie bitte etwas langsamer.
Spanish: Habla mas lento por favor.
Japanese: Motto yukkuri itte kudasai.

“I don’t understand.”
German: Ich verstehe nicht.
Spanish: No entiendo.
Japanese: Wakarimasen.

“My name is…”
German: Ich heiße Marie. (I’m called Marie.)
Spanish: Me llamo Marie.
Japanese: Watashi no namae wa Marie desu.

“Where can I find a taxi?”
German: Wo kann man ein Taxi finden?
Spanish: ¿Donde puedo encontrar un taxi?
Japanese: Taxi wo doko de hiroemasuka?

“Where is the airport?”
German: Wo ist der Flughafen?
Spanish: ¿Donde esta el aeropuerto?
Japanese: Kuukou wa doko desuka?

“Where is the nearest restroom?”
German: Wo ist die Toilette?
Spanish: ¿Donde esta el bano mas cerca?
Japanese: Chikaku no otearai/toire(toilet) doko desu ka?

“Can you help me?”
German: Können Sie mir bitter helfen? (formal) / Kannst du mir bitte helfen? (informal)
Spanish: Podrías ayudame?
Japanese: Tasukete kuremasuka?

“I need a doctor.”
German: Ich muss zum Arzt gehen. or Ich brauche einen Arzt.
Spanish: Necesito un doctor.
Japanese: Watashi wa isha ga hitsuyou desu.

“Thank you.”
German: Danke.
Spanish: Gracias.
Japanese: Domo Arigatou.

“Goodbye.”
German: Tschüss, / Auf wiedersehen.
Spanish: Chao.
Japanese: Sayonara.

You can write the translations of these phrases on a piece of paper or in your notebook, or bring a dictionary with you during your travels.

Listening to podcasts or audio programs can also help familiarize you with the vocabulary. This will help you know how to use basic words and phrases in conversations. After listening, try using these in actual discussions with the locals.

Most especially: practice, practice, practice. It takes a while to get the hang of it, but when you do, you’ll soon see how easy communicating in a foreign tongue can be.

Indeed, learning the basics of a language is important before going on a vacation because it helps overcome communication barriers. But more importantly, it’s a sign of respect for the locals — making an effort to learn their language opens doors to more wonderful relationships and experiences.

The post Learning the Basics of a Language Before Going on a Vacation appeared first on Travellers' Joint.