As many travelers know, there’s nothing like learning a language in the host country while traveling or taking part in a language immersion homestead or school. Whether you choose a form of schooling or not, if you have the time, it’s a good idea to learn some basic phrases that will at least allow you to get transportation and find accommodations. Or, if you have a good understanding of a language, but want to spruce up your skills for a trip, I’ve found a few of the best sites for learning languages, which have been helpful to me:
This site allows you to look over vocabulary, dialogue, writing and Bussu Talk, which enables you to have a real conversation with a native speaker. This allows the native speaker to learn English, while you correspond with them and learn their native language at the same time. I’ve used the free membership for a couple of trips in the past. I’ve mostly used it for vocabulary and dialogue, but the other services offered are very user friendly and will surely help you out whether you’re a beginner or advanced speaker.
This site has a several different links to learn languages including, French, Spanish, German, Italian and more. If you learn better with person to person interaction, Busuu.com has more social capabilities, but the BBC website has many creative ways to learn on your own.
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is a very popular option for learning a language. I have not used the for purchase software, but I have used the free Demo where you can learn, practice and play games to aid in the learning process. If your purchase the program, you are also able to interact with others online. I thought the demo was great and very helpful, so if you have the money, Amazon sells the software. I have listed some popular selections below:
Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) Level 1-3 Set
Rosetta Stone French Level 1-3 Set
Rosetta Stone Chinese (Mandarin) Level 1-3 Set
Rosetta Stone Portuguese (Brazil) Level 1-3 Set
Rosetta Stone Italian Level 1-3 Set
Rosetta Stone Japanese Level 1-3 Set
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” ‒Nelson Mandela
If you have found other language learning venues, which have worked for you, please share!
Travel by Backpack - Steps to prepare for travel from someone who's done it 