Shoestring Travel: Being Understood Is Half The Battle

Melissa and I both love to travel, and as the saying goes: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." But, in Rome, people speak Italian, and we don't.

Sure, you can take fancy pants language classes, or buy the oh so expensive Rosetta Stone, but what if you're traveling on a shoestring?

For those of you with an iPhone, or iPod, make sure you check out free (or low cost) language podcasts, like the iPhone apps and audio podcasts from World Nomads. iTunes has podcasts available in dozens of different languages, you can memorize your way to at least a basic understanding of the language — at the very least, learn a few key phrases. I figure if I can order coffee, say please and thank you, and ask where the bathroom is, I'm golden.

For just a few dollars, you can download a phrase book, or language translator on iTunes. While your iPhone or iPod Touch might make you look like a tourist in some countries (read: rural Africa), in other countries, you're just looking up phrases instead of checking emails. (I downloaded an iPhone app for Swahili before I went to Tanzania, and it helped immensely.)

If you don't have the time or the inclination to learn a new language you can always go with my backup Plan: the Point It: Traveller's Language Kit

This handy little pocket book has pictures of almost everything. If you wanted to order an orange, just flip to the food page in the book, and point at the orange, and voila! The orange magically appears. (Unless, of course, you happen to be at a place that doesn't have oranges. Hey, it's a book, not a magic lamp.) Containing over 1,200 items, this book covers pretty much everything you could think to ask for, and if not, I highly recommend gesticulating wildly.

What other tips do you guys have for learning a foreign language for less?

~Meghan

PS ~ Be sure to check back for an upcoming article from Shoestring's own Travel Pants, on boosting your resume and travel enjoyment by learning or brushing the dust off some foreign language skills.

Comments

[Christy McCathy]

Hi Shoestringers!

Glad that you like our Traveller's phrase guides! We figured that most travellers only have the headspace to learn a few key phrases, enough to have fun, engage with the locals and find the bathroom!

Just a quick note on future developments -- by the end of June 2009, we'll have launched an updated version of the Spanish App for iPhone. This one will have about 550 phrases and include sections like food and eating, bars and flirting... all the stuff to make your holiday *really* memorable! This will cost about $0.99 US (compare that cost to some of the other phrase guides! eeek!) - but we will also continue to have the shorter free versions available too.

Thanks for your kind words - if anyone has any feedback on our Podcast or App Guides, we'd love to hear it; Leave a comment

Happy travels
Christy McCarthy, Community Manager, WorldNomads.com