5 benefits of learning a new language when traveling.
Photo by Oleg Magni from Pexels
We all wish for escaping our boring and busy city routines, but why not? After all, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, and no one wants this to happen to them. So, in order to get away from your oppressive routine, you might also have planned of going to a far-off country with your loved ones. Well, as much as I appreciate this idea of yours, I still might have to pop your bubble of disillusion that says: “traveling to a foreign country is all fun and no worries”.
Let me tell you guys that it is not really that easy to enjoy yourself in a foreign land if you don’t know their native language. Specifically, if you are planning on spending your vacation in a country where English is not spoken or understood efficiently by the common men, you may have to face various problems.
For instance, if you have booked your tickets for a holiday in Japan, I would suggest you learn some basic Japanese words so that you don’t get lost, being unable to guide the taxi driver properly about your destination. Also, you can always search online for the best ways to learn Japanese.
Moreover, there are other great benefits to learning a foreign language. Wondering what they might be? Just read on to discover more about new languages and the numerous advantages of learning them.
Allows you to get around easily
There are numerous ways in which knowing the native tongue can allow you to travel more easily in a foreign land. Moreover, learning a new language will also make your experience more fun and highly memorable.
Also, it allows you to carry out daily affairs on your own. For example, you would be able to read and understand road signs, buy stuff without trouble, and generally move around the new place while being able to communicate with new people. You would learn a lot more and have fuller experiences.
A great way of creating new connections
Language is the biggest barrier when it comes to making new friends, so why not break it down already? In this way, you would not only be able to add more diversity to your experiences, but also make alliances with the natives in case you plan on visiting again.
Moreover, speaking to people from a different ethnic, lingual, or religious backgrounds will open up your mind to newer perceptions of viewing the world around you. So, get the best out of your vacation abroad by communicating with new people throughout your trip.
A gateway to a better understanding of the foreign culture
We all say that the world nowadays has become a global village, but we still have various misunderstandings and hold prejudices against some cultures. These misunderstandings can only be erased from the canvas of our minds when we have detailed conversations with people belonging to those known-to-be-inferior cultures.
In such cases, conversing in the tongue of the people whose culture is still a mystery to you can be of great help in terms of gaining more truer and unbiased knowledge.
Saves you from getting into trouble
Who knows what might come your way during your days in the foreign land? You may get into big trouble just because you are unable to understand the next person or make them understand you.
So, if you want to have no such experience while you are out enjoying yourself, all you need to do is learn the language. In addition to this, learning another language can be of great help in case someone traveling with you gets into trouble. So, have a stress-free trip, away from all sorts of trouble after you have taught yourself the native tongue.
An amazing way of becoming even smarter
According to various scientific research, bilingual people tend to have a lower risk of developing diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Also, people who can speak more than one language are known to be smarter and more responsive in comparison to those who know only one language. Other than that, learning a new language can enhance your brain’s capability to be more creative, enabling you to solve problems more quickly and efficiently.
Instead, it opens your way to get better work opportunities around the globe or within your country. All in all, a bit of the effort that you put in while learning a new language can result in a lifetime of benefits.
Author BIO
Lara Smith has worked for Wall Street English for 20 years. After studying at Stanford University and subsequently doing a CELTA course, she began her career in teaching. She is obsessed with languages and currently writes blogs at https://www.mimicmethod.com/.