Traveling the right way

My middle-school best friend used to excitedly email me stories of her conversations with American or European backpackers whenever she had a chance to meet one on the streets of Vietnam. Currently majoring in international relations at a Vietnamese national university, she studied English extensively during high school, and seized every opportunity she had to practice speaking the language. The best way to practice, she said, is approaching backpackers, especially backpacking native speakers. Just by asking them if they need help with directions, or by simply saying hi, she has struck up plenty of interesting conversations, improving her English pronunciation and speaking confidence while.... teaching strangers Vietnamese. (As it turns out, some backpackers are even more adept than us Vietnamese natives with directions and at our own game of bargaining, and just wanted my friend to teach them some more Vietnamese.)

Now why did I bring this up? An article titled "7 Tips for Learning a Foreign Language on the Road" appeared yesterday on Brave New Traveler, an online travel magazine. Its seventh and last tip encourages travelers to "reciprocate;" in trying to learn a language from the locals, an American traveler should "be patient and indulge them in conversation" when approached by locals "eager to practice their English." If my friend's stories are any evidence, this is a great way to immerse yourself in a new country's language and culture (and, as the article notes, to possibly find yourself invited to dinner during the conversation to sample more of the cuisine).

The columnist, Tim Patterson, also advises travelers to learn a few good jokes for conversation starters. If you know the locals are going to laugh at your funny accent either way, why not talk funny with an even funnier joke, and make them laugh at the joke instead? "Speaking with your stomach" and going shopping are other great ways to quickly learn to communicate the necessities: learn the word "delicious," followed by names of common and culturally relevant foods, as well as how to say "This is too expensive" or "I want the local price."

Behind these tips, the article makes a great point about traveling in the modern world. Why would an English speaker need to learn any languages while traveling, you might ask, if everyone else can speak enough English to communicate with you? Because you want a "more authentic, fulfilling, unique, and memorable travel experience," of course. As we already discussed in class, language can miraculously unite and open people up to each other. By learning just a few common phrases in a language and using them during your travel, you can much more easily connect with the locals, learning from them first-hand accounts of the country you are traveling in. Some language knowledge will enable you to actively interact with and participate in a new country's culture, which makes traveling a whole lot more rewarding than simple sightseeing and picture-taking.

Have fun learning!