Language travel guide - Blog

I recently spent two months in Thailand in Klong Six of Pathum Thani province — one hour north of Bangkok. My Mexican-American wife taught English to children at a government school, and to adults at a private school, while I ran my airfares website from our rented, three bedroom house on this street (below).

We had wild frogs hopping into our yard and lizards sticking in Mission Impossible poses on our ceiling. We started each day with a cold shower, because there was no water heater. I only saw another Westerner about once a week. I think you get the point – we were in the Thai boonies.

I anticipated the Thai language to twist my tongue due to its tonal nature, and this was initially the case. If you weren’t aware, essentially the same Thai word can have a completely different meaning depending on how you emphasize its vowels. The five different tones are low, mid, high, rising and falling. For example, “mai” has five different meanings:

mai = new (low tone)
mai = wood (high tone)
mai = why (mid tone)
mai = no / burn (falling)
mai = silk (rising)

Take a listen to the different pronunciations: Thaiworldview

Since different pronunciations can render the same word into a different meaning, you need to be spot on with your vowel tones.

Typically, when traveling to foreign countries, I learn several dozen popular words and expressions. For example, my linguistic journey to Japan was seamless because the pronunciations were a piece of cake, since each Japanese vowel has only one possible sound. It was pretty straightforward and reminded me of Spanish. However, Thai was a different story.

Here are 20 words and phrases along with my best attempt at an English transliteration to help your pronunciations. I highly recommend learning these before your next Siamese rendezvous (they are intentionally lower case to look less intimidating):

1. sawa dee kahp/kah = hello / good bye
This is the mahalo of Thailand — it construes hello and goodbye. Note: Men say “kah” at the end, while women say “kahp”. Say this word while doing a “wai” (see Ronald McDonald photo below), which is a bow with hands in prayer position. You will get very far with this expression.

2. sabai dee = i am good

3. kob koon kahp = thank you
This is the second most important phrase for a tourist, because you are usually finding yourself asking someone for something, such as directions, ordering food or buying tickets.

4. my pehn rye = no problem
This is said in response to kob koon kahp. This is a very popular phrase and was even the title of a pop song while I was in Thailand, so it was ingrained in my head. However, I rarely had a chance to use since I was usually the person giving thanks, not the other way around.

5. falang-set = foreigner
It’s a similar concept to the word “gaijin” in Japan. Falang, also pronounced “farang”, is the term that Thais refer to foreigners from the West as. The origins of this word are up for debate. It could be derived from the French word “Francais”, the Persian word for foreigner which is “farangi”, or some other unknown derivation.

6. kah tote = excuse me
Perfect for calling a waiter, or stopping a pedestrian for directions.

7. aroy = delicious
I said this often to wait staff or whoever prepared my meal. Using this often, along with generous tipping, will make you a very popular farang.

8. sway = beautiful
Sway describes something or someone this is pretty, like a sunset or a woman. Repeat the word twice in succession to signify “very beautiful”, as in “sway sway”.

9. ahan = food

10. naam = water

11. kow = rice

12. kow pad = fried rice

13. naam kahng = ice

14. chah yen = iced tea

15. som tom thai = papaya salad
This is the staple to any Thai meal. Get used to saying and eating this often.

16. peht = spicy

17. mai peht = not spicy

18. nit noy peht = a little spicy
After you nail down all 20 phrases, you can simply responded “nit noy”, when asked if you speak Thai.

19. hong naam = rest room

20. same same, but different = similar
Great English word phrase that most Thai people know. Perfect for telling a tuk tuk driver that he’s turning into the wrong hotel driveway.

The people of Thailand had beautiful personalities and easy smiles, and quickly embraced my attempts to speak Thai. Any gesture I made to a stranger was met with a beaming smile. However, desptie those positive vibes I felt uncomfortable delivering some of the Thai vowels tones. It wasn’t so much that the five different pronunciations were difficult, but I just felt like a giraffe trying to meow like a cat. I guess it was the embarrassment factor, initially. It just takes getting laughed at sveral times before you develop the appropriate strength and confidence — it’s worth it in the end. And, you will get laughed at, but at least you’ll be engaging and communicating with the locals.

Author:   FC Rau is an affiliate marketing veteran and born again soccer hooligan based in Gridlock Angeles, CA.

photo: india kangaroo

So, you are learning French but struggling to find inspiration? Number one on your to-do list should be a trip somewhere in the French-speaking world. There is no substitute for being immersed in a language you want to learn. By studying in immersion, you have to use your language skills all day every day in a wide variety of situations.

Alas, an extended stay in a French-speaking country may not be possible. Or perhaps you have already come back from a trip and feel your French slipping away now you have returned to your comfort zone, watching endless “How I Met Your Mother” re-runs or aimlessly surfing the web as those long afternoons discussing black and white movies, cigarette nonchalantly drooping from the corner of your mouth, fade into sweet memories. (We don’t condone smoking, BTW)

Be productive! There are loads of free resources for learners of French available online, including:

(the titles are links)

About.com’s French section (all levels)

It’s ugly but it’s effective. Plenty of features on all aspects of the French language and French culture. There are plenty of audio samples of people speaking French, which is very useful in a language where pronunciation is one of the trickier challenges.

Phonétique (all levels)

Improve your French pronunciation with this useful website.

Le pont du FLE (beginner)

Lots of free audio resources and interactive tests to help you improve your French.

BBC Languages French (beginner/intermediate)

There’s plenty on this site to help you practise your French basics, including programmes to watch, interactive exercises and information about Francophone culture.

Verb2verbe (intermediate)

Conjugate verbs in French and English. Hours of fun if you are into verb conjugation, otherwise just a helpful learning tool.

Tex’s French Grammar (intermediate/advanced)

Loads of grammar tools and tips for learners of French. Click on the link in the top left corner of the page (Tex’s French Grammar) to get started. Includes exercises and audio files to get you going.

RFI – Radio France International (advanced)

Loads of documents and audio aimed at learners of French. A great, free resource.

From time immemorial, humans have felt the drive to travel around and explore the world. Even today, in the fast-paced global village the world has become, traveling is something that nearly everyone likes doing. But the definition of “travel” is sometimes quite different depending on who you ask!

For some traveling means being pampered in an exotic resort, for others it means diving head-first into another culture. For some it means spending time in a nice hotel, while others will much rather rent a holiday cottage somewhere quiet.
We believe there are essentially 7 types of travelers. Which one are you? Add your comments after the post and let us know!

The Vagabond

You may be surprised to know there are still active vagabonds in this day and age, but there are actually many folks who favor this lifestyle. They are often people with next to no money, but with real a thirst to see the world! This kind of traveler will usually take odd jobs to get something to eat, make street performances or simply ask for spare change. It may not seem like a glamorous option, but you’ve got to hand it to them: they have genuine traveler’s spirits!

The Roamer

Unlike genuine vagabonds, who usually have no desire or intention to lead a “regular” life or “settle down”, the roamer is usually more participative of standard social practice. They are usually retired people or part-time/seasonal workers who own a home somewhere, but don’t spend that much time in it. They’ll rather spend most of their time travelling around in RV or mobile caravans, and they will often choose their next destination on a whim.

The Digital Nomad

This is a new breed of traveler, which has exponentially grown with the advent of the Internet. They are people who make a good living exclusively on-line, and who as such are often able to live anywhere they like. Unlike the Vagabonds or Roamers, they will usually rent a holiday home for a few months, or settle down anywhere they like for extended periods of time. Why not? It’s actually easy to do so when you are not bound to a regular office/workplace.

The Escapade Artist

Some people plan their holidays for months, or even years. But others will much rather play by year and just wing it. They are the kind of traveler who will suddenly take off for the weekend somewhere exotic, or take advantage of a last-minute low cost flight to go have lunch in another continent and come back for the night. The escapade artist is usually a person who follows their instincts, and they are happiest when they manage to break their daily routine.
The Tourist

This is quite possibly the most “mainstream” type of traveler. You’ll see then hanging around historical monuments, shooting lots of pictures, and feeling all around smitten about the local landscapes. These touristic people are all about making extensive plans and hiring travel agencies, and they’re usually not too keen on improvising as they go along. They may not be the most adventurous type of travelers, but they know how to cherish their excursions.

The Luxurist

Some people travel to see the world and meet other cultures; not the luxurist. This is the type of traveler who has lots of money and is unafraid of spending it. They will usually be more concerned about making an impression than anything else, and often they’re concerned with making their luxurist friends envious. This type of traveler is usually driven only by the prospect of experiencing the most fashionable destinations and escapades.

The Linguist

There are also many travelers who are driven by the prospect of learning a new language or joining a new culture. The linguist is usually a younger, academic minded individual, looking to improve fluency and proficiency in the use of foreign languages by going somewhere those languages are native. Quite often, this type of traveler will spend years abroad and sometimes even settle down in their favored country, and become an emigrant.
What type of traveler are you? Join the conversation by adding your comments below this article. Also…no matter which type of traveler you are, you may want to use the UK holiday places website when looking for holiday accommodations!

Your choice of destination for you language study trip will make a huge difference to the experience you have. One of the most important questions you can ask yourself is whether you would rather study in a small town or in a big city. There are advantages and disadvantages to both and it really comes down to personal preference.

Your choice of destination will help you find likeminded people. What’s that old saying, “Birds of a feather flock together?” But beyond that, you will also find a completely different range of activities on offer in different destinations.

For example, the best surfing opportunities are usually (not always) found in smaller towns where surfing is an important part of local culture. Similarly, if you want to ski, there are some cities where resorts are within an hour’s travel, but there is no substitute for the atmosphere you get up in the mountain resorts.

The bigger the better?

In a big city, you will never run out of new places to discover. You can eat in a different restaurant every day (budget permitting!), find new and exciting music venues and nightclubs, enjoy diverse shops and much more.

Larger cities also usually have larger language schools… there are pros and cons to learning in a large school. But you will often find smaller schools in large cities too, so the choice is yours.

One factor that many big cities have in common is that many of the residents did not grow up in the city itself. This means that, not only can you meet a hugely diverse variety of people from all corners of the Earth, but they have all had the experience of arriving in a big city and many will have experienced learning the language there, one way or another. On the flipside, people can be more defensive and tougher in cities.

Another benefit of studying in a big city is the range of transport available to you. This means that you can easily get out of the city for a short trip elsewhere. Smaller towns are rarely as well connected.

But big cities can be lonely too. People come and go, relationships can be fleeting and you will never get to meet everyone. Some people find large cities overwhelming and impersonal. Others wouldn’t have it any other way!

Small is beautiful!

Big cities are not for everyone. Despite the sheer volume of people in a city, it can actually be easier to meet people in a smaller place as the action is concentrated around fewer hotspots. This means you are far more likely to actually get to know people properly.

Smaller towns can also be more welcoming. Living in the city, you naturally put up defences, which is not true in smaller, closer communities. You are less likely to feel like “a number” in a small town, where the pace of life is slower and the appearance of a foreigner is still something of a novelty.

Another advantage of studying in a small town is that you will be closer to nature. Relax in a beach paradise, where you can spend your afternoons lazing on the sand or snorkelling, or in an Alpine town where the mountains can be climbed up, skied down and generally admired after a long and active day… who needs the hustle and bustle of a city metro anyway?

From a language learning point of view, you are likely to find fewer English speakers in smaller towns than large cities.

There are naturally some downsides to smaller towns. For example, you won’t get the same opportunities to see major events like concerts, sport tournaments and exhibitions that can only be found in the city. If you are into music, you are less likely to find musical inspiration in a small town:  cities are like magnets for musicians.

So, what’s it to be?

Choosing the right destination for your language study trip is an important decision. You could start by searching blogs or reading forums for an overview of what is out there and an idea of destinations that may suit your style.

If you book your trip with an agency like ESL, you will receive free, impartial advice about destinations from staff with plenty of experience.

photo: Christian Kadluba

Deutshe Sprache, Schwere Sprache? Not if you have the right resources to hand!

The best way to practise your German, apart from marrying a German/Austrian/Swiss person, is to immerse yourself in the language during an extended stay in a country where it is spoken. That way, you will see the language in its own context and will use it in everyday situations. You will also discover the joy of bakeries in that part of the world. And maybe the dubious pleasure of the currywurst.

In the meantime, here are some websites that will help you fine tune your German skills:

(the titles are links)

About.com German (all levels)

Lots and lots of help for learners of German. The pages about grammar are especially useful and explain the many intricacies of German grammar remarkably clearly. The pages on German prefixes are superb.

BBC German (all levels)

The Beeb provides a great range of materials and exercises for learners of German, including interactive series, online tests and plenty of cultural background stuff to help your learning.

Deutsche Welle (all levels)

Truly impressive resource with videos, podcasts and loads of activities for you to try. Deutsche Welle is Germany’s international broadcaster and produces television, radio and online content to “promote understanding of Germany as an independent nation with its roots in European culture and as a liberal, democratic, constitutional state based on the rule of law.”

On the Deutsche Welle site, you will also find Marktplatz, a free online course on German in the workplace.

Portsmouth University Beginners‘ German (beginners)

A beginners’ German course with twelve chapters of dialogue and exercises. Nice and clear content aimed at learners in the first stages of German. Includes nice regional examples as well as standard “Hochdeutsch”.

Deutsche Grammatik – Übungen (intermediate)

No-nonsense Grammar tests for learners of German. Lots and lots of tests for your pleasure.

Jetzt Deutsch Lernen (advanced)

The Goethe Institute’s interactive online German learning resource. One of the coolest features of the website is the “Jetzt Chat” which allows users to speak with native German speakers at various times of the day. You can even find them for a chat in Second Life!

And last but not least…

LEO German-English dictionary

LEO is a superb online dictionary. Really comprehensive, with well-presented results and suggestions, you will probably need this a lot during your studies. It can be a little disconcerting when you enter an English word and receive 15 German options in return but, hey, that’s German…

We all know about false friends. The moment you turn your back, they are drinking your beer, flirting with your partner and… no, hang on a minute… not that kind of false friend. When learning a language, a false friend is a word that appears familiar from a language that you already know, but the meaning is quite different.

For example, if a smiling German offers you a little “Gift” with your coffee, run away; Gift translates as “poison”.

English is full of words that started their lives in other languages and not all of the words kept their original meaning when they came over. What’s more, meanings change over time. For example, the word bird originally meant “young bird, nestling” but later came to mean all winged mammals through a process known as semantic broadening.

So, which words can trip learners up?

Spanish false friends – Amigos Falsos

embarazada = pregnant, not embarrassed (when you are embarrassed, something “gives you shame”: dar verguenza)

molestar = to bother, not to molest like an aging popstar

preservativo = condom

simpático = nice

desgracia = misfortune

German false friends – Falsche Freunde

Gift = poison

bekommen = get (not become, which is werden)

komisch = odd (not comic)

hell = light (asking for “ein Helles bitte” in Munich, you will receive a lovely, light beer)

After  =  rectum

Mist = manure, dung

Tripper = gonorrhoea (hopefully you will not have to use this one)

Beamer = overhead projector (not BMW)

French false friends – Faux Amis

comédien(ne) = actor

injure = an insult (an injury would be une blessure)

librairie = bookshop

user = wear out (to use would be utiliser)

supporter (verb) = to put up with

Italian false friends – Falsi Amici

camera = room

genitori = parents

parente = relative

tastare = to touch, to feel

So, if for some reason a parente tells you they want to tastare your genitori, it’s no reason to leave the camera. Ahem.

Have we missed any good ones?

The best way to learn a language is in full linguistic immersion, when you are having fun and enjoying an authentic cultural experience. When you learn in immersion, you are surrounded by the language and need to use it in everyday situations to make yourself understood. It can be a challenge but it is a hugely rewarding one and assures fast progress.

When you are not in linguistic immersion, it is important to stay in touch with the language. This can be before your trip of after you come home. This post features some of the best online tools for learners of Spanish.

(click on the titles to visit the sites)

About.com’s Spanish section (all levels)

About.com’s language sections may not be beautiful, but they are full of excellent information and lessons for language learners. They cover all of the grammatical challenges that English speakers have when learning the language, including verb tenses, irregular verbs and the subjunctive.

Notes in Spanish (all levels)

Podcasts at all levels including real Spanish conversations. Good stuff.

Más arriba – Trent University (beginners)

“An interactive workbook of introductory Spanish language exercises, based on the pictorial contextualization of fundamental vocabulary and language points”. Basically a load of useful beginners exercises that will help you improve your skills. Using the exercises on this website in Google Chrome can be a harrowing experience.

BBC Languages Spanish section (beginners/intermediate)

Does anyone in Britain really begrudge the BBC license fee? Free online resources such as their language learning sections are great for beginner language learners and include tons of interactive content.

Videos that would previously have been buried late at night on BBC2 are available to access free at any time of day. Mi Vida Loca is an interactive series for beginners that takes you on a whirlwind tour of Spain with new Spanish friends and their dramatic lives. It’s not quite the same as real immersion, but it’s great fun!

Verbling (intermediate/advanced)

This is a new online project run by a pair of Swedish entrepreneurs based in Silicon Valley. The idea is that you can find a “study buddy” who speaks Spanish fluently and take turns to speak Spanish and English. It’s free; all you need is a decent internet connection and headset so you can hear the other person.

Gramática by Enrique Yepes (intermediate/advanced)

Plenty of useful interactive exercises that will really get you thinking about the language.

Lo Mas TV (advanced)

Get access to a wide range of Spanish language television programmes. For individuals, the service costs $9.95 per month and there are also packages available for schools. Alternatively, you could always just search on YouTube and you will find a tremendous array of Spanish language material.

Spanish.language&culture (advanced)

Barbara Kuczun Nelson’s free online resources for learners of Spanish including a wide range of videos and exercises.

Flashcards will help you learn a language quickly and thoroughly.

They may not be especially glamorous but they will help you to memorise vocabulary, phrases and grammar. You can take them with you on train journeys, you can read them on your lunch break, you can hunch over them late at night or go through them before bed… rather like a marine’s rifle, your flashcards are your best friend. Usually, anyway.

There are many different ways to use flashcards and many free resources available online if you want to use cards prepared by someone else. Flash Card Exchange isn’t the prettiest, but there are loads of useful decks on there, while Anki is the program of choice if you have access to a computer.

But you could always make your own. The advantage of this is that you can tailor the content to your own needs, focusing the vocabulary on the topics that are relevant to you.

Images & text or just text?

Some flashcards have a word in the language you are learning on one side and its translation on the other side. Others have an image on one side and the word in the language you are learning on the other side. Generally, the more distinctive your cards are, the more likely you are to remember them.

Monolingual vs. bilingual

Monolingual flashcards are great for real nouns which can easily be illustrated, but they are not so useful for verbs or idioms, which cannot easily be drawn.

Languages with a different writing system

Your flashcards will can help you associate logograms in Japanese, Chinese and Korean for example, with objects and English sounds.

Phrases & idioms

Flashcards are a great for learning phrases and idioms. These cards really have to be bilingual to make any sense. You could consider grouping phrases together by theme.

Opposites

Flashcards are a great way to memorise opposites like empty/full, fat/thin. Simply put one on one side and the other on the other and you will have a pack of “opposites”. Easy!

Themes

You can group your flashcards into themes such as body parts, colours, animals, financial terms, sports and so on. This can make words easier to remember.

Colours

If you are learning a language with genders, you could consider allocating a colour to each gender. Native English speakers struggle to assign genders to nouns because it is not an issue in English. Assigning colours can help.

The most important thing is that your personal flashcards work for you! You can experiment with various types and see what helps you remember best.

There’s a myth that seems to be gaining popularity in some parts of the world. You often hear it from sulking students in language classrooms. You hear it when there is homework to be done and Champions League football on the TV. Worryingly, you sometimes hear in professional circles too.

It goes something like this: “there’s no point in me learning another language because I speak English and everyone speaks English.”

Of course there is some truth to the argument. English is the international language of business. People around the world know that if they want to get ahead they need to speak English. Fine. But, does that mean that native English speakers shouldn’t bother with a second language? There isn’t pressure on English speakers to learn another language for business. Or is there?

In major world capitals like New York and London, there are an increasing number of young, ambitious people from all over the world who speak perfect English… along with three or four other languages. As an employer, who would you choose?

Here are some examples of industries where speaking another language is a huge advantage:

The media

Whether you want to work in the money-moving side of the media or on the front line as a journalist, language skills are highly relevant. For a position such as a foreign correspondent, you will be at a huge advantage if you can speak the language of the country in which you are stationed. Even if you are home-based, being able to read foreign news media as they are intended is gives you a big advantage over monoglots.

In the money side of the media, speaking another language is also a big “plus”. This is an age of international news and massive corporations, but the power of speaking to someone in their own language will never diminish.

Travel & tourism

One industry in which you are guaranteed to come across plenty of foreign people is Travel & Tourism. Many of them will speak English but many will not, especially older people. Each additional language you can speak will make you more valuable to employers.

Teaching

Language teaching is a flexible job that you can take anywhere with you. Fed up with the European winter? Pack your bags and you can be somewhere sunny and earning money in no time. If you don’t want to teach your mother tongue, as a polyglot you have options. Best of all, you will be passing on your enthusiasm to the next generation.

Politics

If you have any ambitions to work in the European Union, you will have to pass their language tests. This traditionally involves taking an interview in your second language (assuming that second language is either French or German).

Even if European politics doesn’t appeal to you, you will benefit from speaking a second language. In the USA, politicians who speak Spanish are widely praised and can communicate with the increasing Latino percentage of the US population.

Fashion

An international industry where speaking French, Italian or Spanish is a huge advantage if you wish to deal with the most influential design houses. But even if you are in the business of selling high fashion, language skills are increasingly important.

The fastest-growing markets for designer clothing are in China, Russia and the Middle East. Bear in mind the word of former West German chancellor Willy Brandt: “If I am selling to you, I speak your language. If I am buying, dann müssen Sie Deutsch sprechen.”

Once upon a time, all men  on earth spoke the same language and understood each other. The day they started building a tower that will reach the heavens, God wanted to punish them of their pride and introduced many languages so that they can not understand each other and stop the project of the Babel Tower. Thus were born the different languages according to the legend. Today, learning another language can bring you closer to other people, understand them and their culture. As a result it is a knowledge that you can value both personally and professionally.However, it is often a long and difficult learning. It is important to start with courses of quality to get basic grammatical and vocabulary, but after a while, it is strongly recommended to visit the country in question to complete the learning. For this purpose I will speak now about the benefits of internships abroad.
First, as trainee, you can actually practice the target language with native speakers in the country. Being all the day surrounded by the language may seems hard and tiring at first but you will soon see results. Working in a company is also really good to become familiar with the economic environment of the country and to be open to another reality, to other ways of work than the one you can know.

Then, better as a simple road trip, an experience in business abroad will always look strong on your resume when searching for your next job. As a matter of fact, your experience abroad allow you both become familiar with another language and also develop new skills in the field of activity, skills you can easily use again in your next job.
As another advantage is the interaction with your colleagues. It is a simple way to get to know other people, build your network. Feel free to submit an teamevent at the end of a day in order to better know them. Building relationships is really important to live abroad because even with Skype and the other technologies, being alone will fast get you homesick and not enjoying your trip.
Finally, working in a country means to live there too. The every day life become then an adventure and a time to learn. Ideally, choose to live in community with a flatmate or in a residence. This will allow you to keep speaking your new language at the end of the day. You will also know new people, who would help you providing good advice for everyday life: where is the nearest store, what are the nice places for a concert or a glass, how work the local medical system? It can sometimes be intimidating and dangerous to live with people you do not know but it is something that we see more and more often. If you are not comfortable, do not hesitate to rent a vacation rental or a cottage for a few days / weeks. Casamundo.co.uk is the ideal website concerning accomodations in European destinations. This will give you time to visit your option, meet the people who leave there and make your choice knowingly – something sometimes difficult from your home thousands of kilometers away.
So go ahead. Companies love foreign trainees and this will be perfect to improve your language skills. This will also allow you to open your eyes to the world around you, discover new horizons and build your professional network