For those that like to travel the world, learning second or third languages is often a must if they wish to easily assimilate into new cultures. Knowing the national language of any country you visit, whether it be Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, or Swahili, makes getting around a country much easier and opens you up to further cultural experiences that you would have otherwise missed – such as finding that great hole-in-the-wall pub or that landing for a better view of natural scenery.

However, learning another language isn’t always easy or inexpensive. To learn another language in a classroom setting, you can expect to pay several hundred dollars and be forced to learn at a slower pace over the course of several weeks. If you choose to purchase software to learn a language, such as Rosetta Stone, you could find yourself spending a couple hundred dollars each time you needed to increase your learning level from novice to intermediate to advanced to fluent. Neither of these options are ideal for travelers wishing to spend more time traveling and their money on local foods and sightseeing.

So if you plan on traveling to a country that doesn’t speak your language in the near future, consider checking out some of the following free accredited online language courses to help you brush up on your language skills:

BBC Languages

BBC Languages offers a wide array of learning courses and appeals to various types of learners. In addition to basics like French, Spanish, Italian, and German, the site also offer audio and video courses in Greek, Chinese, and Portuguese, as well as mini lessons on countless others. If you find that one of the main languages covered isn’t the one you are looking for, BBC Languages also offers several other mini tutorials that will give you enough vocab to get by in numerous other countries whether it be Bulgaria or Hungary. The BBC Languages site is by far one of the most interactive free learning resources, and is definitely worth taking advantage of – even if you just need to brush up.

MIT

For those interested in learning French, German, Spanish, Japanese, or Chinese, MIT offers several courses to help you obtain the language skills you desire. Set up much like an online college course, MIT’s language courses are offered in series of I-III or higher, and cover everything from language to customs and histories. So if you want a little more than just a language course, consider looking into MIT’s online language learning resources for a more comprehensive learning experience.

My Language Exchange

My Language Exchange is a unique and incredibly valuable online language learning resource because it actually lets you practice the language you would like to learn with a native speaker – for free. Normally, you have to pay a substantial amount of money for a private tutor, and with My Language Exchange, you get the same kind of learning experience without the high price. Not only that, but you also will be more likely to learn relevant slang terms that will help your get by in whatever country you are interested in visiting.

Users should note, however, that not all languages are easy to come by on the site. While My Language Exchange tries to do a good job finding a partner for everyone, more remote or less mobile countries aren’t going to have the same level of connectivity for obvious reasons. So finding someone to practice your Spanish or French with might be easier than finding someone to practice your Swahili with.

The Internet is full of online learning opportunities for the traveler – even those of us that like to keep our budgets low. So if you are looking to travel abroad, don’t simply buy a translation dictionary and hope for the best. Go to one of the several online language learning resources to learn some basic vocabulary – not only will the locals appreciate it, but you’ll be able to enjoy your travels a bit more too.

Written by Julie Mautner and Matt Beer

I ran into an English friend, Matt Beer, the other day and asked how his French was coming along. Not so good, was the reply. It turns out that Matt, one of the funnier people I know, still finds it virtually impossible to be funny in French. Because I’m also one of the funnier people I know, I totally relate. I asked Matt to write a little something about that and here’s what he sent.

So the question remains–how does London’s greatest wit turn into Eygalières’ village idiot and, perhaps more importantly, why was he so self-delusional in the first place?

The idiot is me and the question remains unanswered. Let me explain. I’ve now been living in France for over seven years and yet when it comes to speaking French–you know, the correct use of the past tense and pronunciation of the word “feuille”—I’m currently locked in an epic battle with my daughter’s pet hamster for the honorary title of “least conversant family member.”

When chatting away at a dinner party, once I’ve discussed how sunny it was yesterday, I’ve run out of conversation. Suffering from acute embarrassment, I invariably get nervous, over-react, bring up the issue of Vichy France and never get invited again.

The excuses? Well…

We only speak English at home–true except when the family want to verbally abuse me and speak in French.

I work solely with English-speaking clients–true except when the clients want to verbally abuse me and speak in French.

I have never been on a language course–true as I wanted to avoid the humiliation of being asked to redoubler.

I have absolutely no aptitude for languages–very true.

My wife has explained to me that when I listen to a song I hear the melody and not the words. She has the opposite problem. Sometimes we merge our skills, sing a song together and embarrass the kids. But, nevertheless, I do believe she has a point. I just don’t hear the language. Add in the Provencal accent and this particular Englishman is dead in the water.

So what to do? Answer–nothing. Just enjoy the hospitality offered to me by some wonderful French friends, never again mention Petain and try at the very least to keep up with the hamster.

Oh and for any French readers “Il faisait tres beau hier, n’est pas?”

Being a qualified divorce lawyer for 15 years, Matt Beer decided to divorce himself from reality and move from London to Provence, where he continued to run a legal practice and also write for film and television. He now lives in London again with his wife, Annie, and their kids Zazie and Sam, but comes to Eygalières for vacation.

Julie Mautner is a freelance journalist working in the U.S. and Provence, France. She was a founding editor of Food Arts Magazine in New York and was executive editor for ten years. Since she resigned in 1998 to freelance, her articles have appeared in/on NYTimes.com, TheAtlantic.com, Travel & Leisure, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Epicurious.com, Conde Nast Traveller UK, National Geographic Traveler, New York Magazine and elsewhere. Julie’s first book, The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Cookbook (co-authored with Lee Schrager) was published by Clarkson Potter in November 2010. Julie produces the popular blog about France called ProvencePost.com.

Positano

I wonder how come I haven’t made it to Italy yet. Ever since I learnt the country existed (in school, many, many years ago), I’ve wanted to travel there. After watching The Talented Mr Ripley, shot in Rome, Naples and Positano, my desire to see Italy grew even stronger. I dream of admiring art in Florence, appreciate fashion in Milan, ride a gondola in Venice, discover Rome, relax on beaches in Sicily, visit Positano, eat home-cooked pasta and pizza, and speak Italian.

Italian for Tourists: Pocket Edition by Jo Linsdell offers everything you need for getting by in Italy for a couple of days or weeks. Apart from basic phrases and words tourists will need the most, the book includes a pronunciation guide and a small map of Italy.

Divided into 17 distinct chapters including Emergency, Common expressions, Greetings and introducing yourself, Transport, Hotel, Sightseeing, Asking and giving directions, Food and drink, Health, and Shopping, you can easily find what you’re looking for.

Having worked in hostels and as a tour guide plus lived in Italy for 7 years, Jo Linsdell had the right experience to create a guide to the Italian language. If you’re going to Italy, read this book before arriving.

Italian for Tourists: Pocket Edition is available for purchase through Lulu and Amazon.

Jo Linsdell is also the creator and manager of the award winning site http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com and founder and organiser of PROMO DAY (http://jolinsdell.tripod.com/promoday), an online event for people in the writing industry. She is available for comment at jo_bins@yahoo.com.

Disclaimer: I received the PDF version of Italian for Tourists: Pocket Edition by author Jo Linsdell.

Pancake Stand © Kashfia Rahman

Before leaving for your first (or next) Thailand trip, learn some useful expressions. The locals will appreciate if you make an effort to speak in their language.

Various phrases

Good morning = Sawadd ton chow

Good day/ Hello = Sawadii

Good night =  Sawadd ton yin

Good bye = Lagawn

See you = Påbb gann mai

My name is = Chue

How are you? = Sabai dii mai?

Thank you = Kåb kunn

Do you speak English? = Kunn pood pasaa Angritt die mai?

It was nice to meet you. = Yin dii tii daai roo djack

Good luck! = Chååk dii!

I am fine = Sabai dii

Shopping

How much does this cost? = Tao rai

Can you lower the price? = Lod dai mai

I like this = Chawp aun nee

I like that = Chawp aun nun

Do you have any other colour? = Mee see aeun bang mai

Shop = Ran kaa

Toilet = Hong nam

Clothes = Sier par

Shoes = Rong tao

Watch = Nar ri ka

How much? = Tao Rai?

Restaurant = Ran ar harn

Directions

Where is the clothing shop? =  Ran kaa Sier par u tee nai

Where is the toilet? = Hong nam u tee nai

Where is the restaurant? = Ran ar harn u tee nai

Update: A big thanks to Matt who helped me correct some of the phrases. I started learning Thai a while ago and am by no means an expert. If anyone find another error, don’t hesitate to let me know.

Modified from a post from 2007.

Practise these phrases before your next trip to Spain.

Mas vales tarde que nunca = Better late than never

Me muero de hambre = I am starving

No es moco de pavo = Pretty impressive

No tiene ni pies ni cabeza = It doesn’t make sense

El mundo es un pañuelo = It’s a small world

Más vale una vez rojo que 20 amarillo = It’s better to sort things out now than let them keep annoying you over and over.

Tener el corazón en un puño = To be super worried about something

Hacer de tripas corazón = To make an effort to do something you don’t like/to be brave

Tener enchufe = To have a useful contact that helps you get ahead of the rest

No me entero de la misa la mitad = I don’t understand a thing!

Es un buen partido = He’s a good catch

Me ha dado plantón = He/she hasn’t turned up

Dar en la diana = To get something right

¡La moto va de escándalo! = This bike goes like a dream!

La tarta está de muerte = This cake is incredible

¡Estoy que peto! = I’m totally full up!

Lo hago en un pispás = I’ll do that in a flash

¡Eres un pesado! = You are a total pain!

Me mola mogollón = That is soooo cool

Ese chico es un zumbado = That guy is crazy

Nos hemos zampado todo = We’ve eaten the lot!

Ya era hora! = It was about time

Donde hay confianza da asco = Familiarity breeds contempt

En boca cerrada no entran moscas = Sometimes it’s better to keep your mouth shut

¡Te voy a dar! = I’m going to kick you

¡No me des más la lata! = Leave me in peace!

Más majo que la mar salada = You’re a really nice person

A few years ago I dreamed about Hanoi. I knew where I was because of a sign saying Hanoi. I believe all dreams mean something and remember thinking the dream must mean I should travel there. I even went to the library to lend a book on how to learn Vietnamese. Below are some phrases I learned before I decided to give up on my impulsive idea. I still feel curious about Hanoi though and don’t doubt I will visit eventually.

Hello (to an older man) = Ong
(to a younger man) = Anh
(to an old woman) = Ba
(to an older woman) = Chi
(to a younger lady) = Co
How are you? = Bac co Khoe Khong?
Well, thanks = Cam on binh thuong
Thank you = Cam on
Goodbye = Tam biet
Where’s the bathroom = Cau tieu o dau?
Yes = Da (ya in north)
No = Khong (khum)
Excuse me = Xin Toi
I want/need = Toi can/toi muon

I don’t dream about traveling especially often. Since my Hanoi dream I have only dreamt about Chile, that I walked out from a hotel in East Village in New York a rainy spring day, and that I met some friends in Finsbury Park in north London. Wonder what’s next. Maybe Australia. When I lived in London last year, my flatmate’s friend who’s a palmist said I will travel in Australia, Brazil and Ecuador in the future. He also said I will visit California and San Francisco for short periods. I remember he spoke about my past life as well. According to him I lived on a vineyard in south France during the 1800th century, followed by a life as a painter near St. Petersburg in Russia.

Pictured above, Hanoi from the Sofitel by Neil Ta.

Brevweb, Interpals Penpals, eTandem and United Friendship are good sites for finding a penpal in another country.

I remember that my last Greek penpal learned me how to say:
Me leme = My name is
Ime apo Suecia = I come from Sweden
Agapaw ti thalassa/okeano = I love the ocean
Kaliméra = Good morning
Kalispéra = Good evening
Kalinichta = Good night
Chére = Good bye
Yásou = Hi
Efcharistó = Thank you
Parakaló = You are welcome
Ne = Yes
Óchi = No
Poo íne…? = Where is…?
Póso káni…? = How much costs…?
Tha íthela = I want
Milate angliká = Do you speak English?
Then miló elliniká = I don’t speak Greek

A few weeks later I got a Portguese penpal who teached me:

Eu soua / Chamo – me = My name is
Venho da Suécia = I come from Sweden
Até breve = See you soon
Escreve quando puderes = Write when you can
Por agora é tudo = Bye for now
De sejo te uma boa semana = I wish you a great week
Boa noite = Good night
Obrigado = Thank you
Como estás hoje? = How are you today?
Olá = Hello
Espero receber notícias tuas em breve = I hope to receive news from you soon

Visit South African English is lekker! for a good South African word list.

Black and white 3 © Andrew Mogridge