I have been using Duolingo and suggest people take a look. I have been studying Spanish 3 months and just started Portuguese. I will start Russian later this year. They keep adding languages (eg, Swahili this coming summer). It is FREE, can be used on a mobile device or computer, and "remembers" where you make mistakes, forcing you to review these weaker areas. I use it in combination with a dictionary app for each language (eg SpanishDict, also free) to review grammar, verb conjugations and usage. Really enjoyable and motivating. One more step towards the "big trip."

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CJ
2014 Monster 1200S, 2007 X Challenge, 2016 1200GSA, 2024 CRF300L Rally

My wife's been using Duolingo to learn some Swedish ahead of a trip there at end of May. So far she's 28% "fluent" (according to DL's progress report anyway) but my son's girlfriend is native Swedish and she laughs her head off when she hears my wife's efforts. Better than nothing I suppose (and it is free), but don't plan on discussing philosophy with the locals on the back of a few months of Duolingo.

To get revenge she's just spent some of the kid's inheritance on a Swedish Pimsleur course. That'll teach 'em!

I am sure Swedish is difficult. My French is decent so adding on Spanish and other Romance languages seems possible. I am at 50% in Spanish after three months but still primitive. That said, Duolingo is really structured to be a platform, meaning each subsequent language follows the same learning approach. So if you can start with an simpler language like Spanish, taking up a new language that is perhaps less familiar (like Russian) is supposed to be easier (Duolingo calls it "layering"). At a minimum I hope a little daily study wards off impending senility.

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CJ
2014 Monster 1200S, 2007 X Challenge, 2016 1200GSA, 2024 CRF300L Rally

First off just go! Lots of trips are ruined by people taking to much time, dragging their feet and life just happens.
Traveling abroad It is not nearly as difficult as you think.
I wrote this as an easy starter.
http://thoughtsoftheages.blogspot.co...ow-to-get.html
You will be surprised how many people speak English abroad or will know someone who does. Easy places to visits to get your feet wet are of course Scandinavia, pretty much everyone speaks English there, older people being the exception, Most of northern Europe will, now if they want to is another question.
Greece, very easy and it seems like everyone speaks english.
Philippines the majority will as it is required in school and they were a US territory at one time.

Any nice hotel should have someone who speaks English.

Anyhow do not let any of it scare ya, part of the fun is eating things you never would have had the translation not been wrong pointing and generally acting like an ape while trying to figure out something simple with someone who does not at all.

With that said sometimes someone may talk to you in what seems fluent English and as it turns out their comprension is only 50 percent and you find everything you thought you had worked out was wrong.
It is getting boring easy now with all these translators on phones etc, sigh international travel will never be the same

As noted if All else fails always speak louder and slower, that works

I would rather try to talk to some undesovered tribe over communicate with a Brit

Maybe if you did your spelling might improve


Back to the topic....
Going to countries where you do not speak the native tongue is some of the fun...isn't it? I find it very interesting trying to get your point across to some one who does not have a clue what you are saying
Geting to know some basics is good too

Wayne

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The Balkans
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/poi_entity/8417

English is clearly my last language, as it is to Auto Correct


I think people fear the language barrier far more than necessary, a bigger hurtle is leaning to squat over a hole in the floor or a tiny toilet with no seat.

Then there is the NO TOILET PAPER!!! The Heathens! Soon you learn the importance of a water bottle not for drinking..........

Hello

Doesn't really matter where you go, english is THE travelling language.

For us, not native english speakers, it's a huge effort to learn english so we can communicate with others who also use english the same way.
Esperanto was a good idea but english is a living language and also the easiest to begin with.

So the first step is done, go and travel.

As a native english speaker, there might be a problem when talking to a non native english speaker with limited level and vocabulary.
How to use the 100 or 1000 words he understands?
Pronunciation, depends on one's origin, sometimes its hopeless.

For someone who has already learned a second language, that's much easier.

Having the advantage of being a native english speaker, comes a moral duty to meet locals at eye level.
Instead of asking in english if they speak english, ask it in the local language.
If they do, they will use all the english they know, with a smile on their face.
If not, there's apps and books and handsignals, all works easier once the ice is broken.

have fun
sushi

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My RTW:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrXt660ztenere

If you can make a noise like a chicken, you can get fed anywhere in the World.

Except Scotland. Where obviously, the 3 legged mountain haggis makes the same noise as a chicken.

Hi

I agree with Wayne it is a lot of fun trying to get your question/point across, enjoy communicating.

In my experience when you need to ask a question, try and find a group of young people, there will always be one or two that will be able to help, also you will be giving them the opportunity to show off a little in front of there friends and they will like that.

Dave
www.plodd.net]Plodd
www.overlandersthailand