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You are here: Backpacker Resources > Travel Tips > Learning A Foreign Language

Learning A Foreign Language

Attention lazy linguists! If 2010 is the year when you swore you’d be the master of Mandarin, get fluent in French or check out some Czech, then read on. Hey I hear you ‐ New Year’s resolutions are so last month and it’s already February but actually, it’s only just February so hold those tongues because this month we tell you why learning a foreign language is essential for all ethical travellers.

Ignorance is Bliss

Uh, just in case you had any doubt ‐ no, it’s not. The main reason you learn a language is to understand stuff. Whether it’s deciphering a menu, having a chat, ordering a beer, finding the loo or ‐ heaven forbid ‐ telling a doctor where it hurts, learning the language of the country you’re in, is essential.

Sure, you can probably get along by pointing at stuff. You could also wait for someone who speaks your language to turn up (this one probably applies most to us English speakers), but where’s the fun in that?

Language for Less

This is going to be pricey, you say. All those classes, books and my precious time ‐ it all adds up, right? But wait! You don’t have to spend a lot (or in fact anything) to learn a lot. Ok there’s always those handy glossaries in the back of your guidebook that are easy to memorise but what else can you do to learn a language on a little budget?

For a start look online and check out BBC Languages at bbc.co.uk/languages. Here you can do a 12 week beginner course in French, Spanish, German and Italian for absolutely nothing. That’s right ‐ nada! You’ll even get a certificate from the Beeb when you finish.

Rushed for time and just looking for a few essential phrases? From Albanian to Ukrainian, the Quick Fix option at bbc.co.uk/languages/other/quickfix has you covered. For non‐native English speakers who want a bit more confidence before that big trip to London, try BBC Learning English at bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish

Ok, so you’ve gotten good with a language and you’re beyond the basics ‐ what next? Consider checking out a local library for intermediate to advanced language books, tapes and CDs. Just don’t forget to return them when you’re done! Also if you’re already on the road, there’s still hope for you. Get out and talk to locals! Come the end of your trip you may just sound like one too.

Practice makes perfect, but where do you go to chat with a native speaker? The choice is yours of course, but with bargain locations in Paris, Berlin, Bruges, London and the soon‐to‐open hostel in Prague, St Christopher’s can help you to loosen that tongue, lose those inhibitions and get chatting.

What I’m Trying to Say Is…

So why am I rambling on about learning a foreign language in the ethical travel column? Isn’t all this hot air bad for the environment? Well my point is that no matter where you are on the planet, language is as unique to a place as its food, art, environment or architecture. As ethical travellers, we make the effort to preserve and protect these things and once you start to think of language as on a par with art and food etc, learning one isn’t so much a boring travel essential as it is a way of preserving heritage. So don’t be lazy with languages ‐ do your bit as an ethical traveller and learn a little to help a lot.

‐ Jackie Reddy