I love trying to fit in with the locals when I travel. Being almost six foot tall with blonde hair does not lend itself well to this in most countries but I can make a good effort to communicate with the locals in their native tongue. Before any trip, I try to brush up on hello, goodbye, please, thank you, among other common words and phrases. My previous plan was buying a phrase book or finding a friend who spoke the language but my new approach is an amazing website called SurvivalPhrases.com. Here’s why I love them:
-They have their podcasts broken down into themes than are usually anywhere from 5-10 minutes depending on the topic. They clearly pronounce the words and phrases several times giving you time to repeat it back. The speakers also throw in some cultural tips and tricks to help you use the phrases in the right context.
-They currently have 19 different languages available. Pick an unusual one—perhaps it will inspire a trip or encourage you to take additional courses in that tongue.
-By having the podcasts on your iPod, you can easily listen to a couple whenever you have time. I have been listening to them at the gym. Getting in shape and learning a new language…can it get any better?
Ready to start learning? You can register on their site and download 10 podcasts for free in any one language or you can also search for their podcasts on iTunes. I am personally using the iTunes method and, so far, it hasn’t limited me to just 10 downloads. To find them on iTunes, put SurvivalPhrases.com in the search field.
Want to enhance your language abilities even more? Check out the foreign language books and software available in the Do It While You’re Young marketplace, hosted by Amazon.com.
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This is a great idea! I will have to remember to do this before my next international trip. For those few “non-technical” people (yes, there are some out there!) that love to travel. Do you have any recommendations for travel books/language books that can serve the same purpose?
For a language book, I highly recommend the “Say It Right!” series. These books, available in a number of languages, use a sound-based pronunciation system to help you learn how to say the word correctly. I have one right now for Spanish and it has been very helpful. Ready to get one? Visit the Do It While You’re Young marketplace and put “say it right” in the search field to see available titles.
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