Starting to learn a new language has been shown time and again to have numerous advantages. Being fluent in the language opens many doors to many far-reaching opportunities, from the biological aspect of having trained your brain and remembering details to assisting in landing a job abroad. Aside from that, learning a new language has advantages when it comes to travel. In fact, recognizing the language of the country you’ll be visiting can have a positive impact on the entire trip!

The benefits of learning foreign languages are multiplying as the world becomes more globalized, and multilingualism is now by far the most useful real-world skill ever developed, rather than just a cool party trick. With the correct strategy and mindset, you can blossom into the remarkable linguist you strive to be.

Studying a foreign language is all about having to learn how to truly connect and communicate with others—a crucial life skill that can only be developed through interaction with others. When you master a foreign language, you can use your new superhuman ability to comprehend what someone is saying, recall the appropriate vocabulary and grammar, place that vocabulary and grammar in the appropriate context, and respond back—all on the spot and in a timely fashion. You’ve made contact. And that is the crux of the matter.

5 reasons how learning a language enhances travel experiences:

1. Makes it easier to get around

Understanding the basics of the native language helps you get around and make travel much more enjoyable, transforming it into an enjoyable and entertaining experience. It can be extremely useful, whether for reading the signs or asking for directions – it removes the chance of getting lost in a foreign land. Aside from that, understanding phrases and words in the local language allows you to boldly order food in restaurants, check into a hotel, and even bargain for a lower price at the market!

Remember that you don’t need to be fluent; just enough to get by.

2. Understanding Another Culture

No amount of research, watching documentaries, or reading travel diaries can provide the raw understanding of a culture that can be gained by experiencing it first hand. Isn’t that one of the apparent underlying reasons for going on a trip in the first place? To see, hear, experience, and create memories that have a sense of education and self that no amount of books can provide.

Understanding the native language is most likely the best way to have a more rich and firsthand observation with the native cultures. Why? Because the heart of a culture is held by the locals and the events and perceptions they uphold. The best way to communicate with a local in their own country is in their mother tongue. They will undoubtedly appreciate your efforts to communicate with them.

3. Avoiding Cultural Mishaps

This relates to the previous point about having to learn about the local culture. Learning behaviours and a level of correctness in that culture are associated with learning culture. This helps to avoid making major mistakes that could land you in hot water, or doing what is considered disrespectful. Knowing the language means you’ve spent time learning about a place’s heritage and customs, and a language reflects a lot about the social and cultural colours of its native speakers. Finally, it might just save you from a nagging memory of embarrassment.

4. Establishes New Relationships

Traveling, first and foremost, introduces a great deal of variety. The experiences of such diversification are found more in the people’s behaviors than in the location itself. Getting to know native people you may never see again is a thrilling experience that should not be missed. Isn’t it a source of pride for a traveller to make friends from a foreign land? Having contacts with a diverse range of people from a country other than your own. What better way to gain a true understanding of someone than to converse with them in their native language?

5. Visiting Local Attractions

Because of your new language skills, you will be able to gain understanding of the locals you will be visiting. If you want to have an authentic local experience, this is the best way to spend your vacation. You’ll use your new language to discover all of your vacation destination’s best hidden gems and attractions. Nothing beats discovering a country’s national identity and experiencing its local traditions.

Take your abilities with you! Choose from over 13 languages to learn the language of your vacation destination.